HC Deb 22 November 1955 vol 546 cc91-2W
50 and 51. Mr. Bottomley

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will make a statement about the awarding to a United Kingdom undertaking of the United States contract for the Minidoka Reclamation Scheme in Idaho;

(2) if he will make a statement concerning the new rules adopted by the United States Department of the Interior in awarding contracts to foreign competitors as it affects British interests.

61. Mr. Grimond

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has made to the United States Government on the alterations of the rules governing their acceptance of foreign tenders.

Mr. Low

The new rules announced by the Department of the Interior provide that when the lowest United States bidder offers equipment which will be manufactured substantially in an area of substantial unemployment, the addition to the lowest foreign bid for the purpose of appraising the bids shall be 12 per cent., as compared with 6 per cent. in other cases. It is on the basis of these rules that the contract for the Minidoka scheme has been awarded to an English firm. This decision helps to clarify the conditions under which these contracts may be awarded in future, and there is certainly no question of making representations to the United States Government in regard to it.