HC Deb 02 July 1942 vol 381 c519W
Mr. Bossom

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Planning why he ignored the recommendations of the Select Committee on National Expenditure in its Third Report as regards letting contracts for camps; and have contractors who have been asked to tender recently on architectural and civil engineering work been provided with sufficiently complete information to enable them to prepare close competitive estimates?

Mr. Hicks

My Department is in agreement with the recommendations to which the hon. Member refers and I cannot admit that they have been ignored. Although time did not permit the use of bills of quantities for the camps to which reference is made, plans were available to tenderers who were also able to inspect the sites of the proposed works, and the basis of tendering was both equitable and adequate. The answer to the second part of the Question is, "Yes, to the full extent possible under conditions of-urgency."