HC Deb 20 April 1956 vol 551 c109W
Sir A. Bossom

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the need for economies in all sections of industry and the losses incurred by the British Transport Commission, if he will give a general direction to the Commission to discontinue letting contracts or sub-contracts without full competition, and under no circumstances to let contracts on a cost-plus or an agreed price basis.

Mr. Watkinson

No. The letting of contracts is essentially a function of management in which the Commission should be left free to exercise its commercial judgment in the particular circumstances of each case.