§ 19. Commander Maitlandasked the Minister of Works why the sixty temporary aluminium houses which have been structurally completed in the Spilsby Rural District have not been connected to the electric, water and drainage mains; why in the case of forty-eight houses there has been three months delay in getting this work completed; and why the council's suggestion that the work should have been let to the council's contractors at present working on the sites in question has been set aside.
§ Mr. KeyThe delay is due primarily to the bankruptcy of the contractor. This made it necessary to measure up the work done and prepare special bills of quantity for the work remaining to be completed. At this stage it will probably take no longer to obtain competitive tenders than to negotiate a price with the council's contractors. The twelve houses at Wainfleet are ready for occupation except for the main electricity supply. This is the council's responsibility but I will see what can be done to help them to obtain cable.