HC Deb 30 September 1941 vol 374 c497W
Mr. Groves

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of camps erected under the supervision, as consultant engineer and architect, of T, B. Bennett, and the fees payable; whether he is aware that the recent further jobs for the erection of camps are all alike and the buildings standardised, involving no real need for architectural or engineering skill; and whether he will reduce the fees accordingly?

Mr. Alexander

The number of camps either built or being built under the supervision, as consultant engineers and architects, of Messrs. T. P. Bennett and Son is ten. The task of laying out, erecting and equipping these camps is a very important one, requiring skilled supervision and constant attention in order to secure the earliest possible completion. It would not be in conformity with practice to reveal the actual fees paid for architects' services, but I can assure the hon. Member that the fees in this case are much below the normal professional scale. The Board of Admiralty are satisfied that the terms arranged with this firm are advantageous to the Government.