§ Mr. G. Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Air why local contractors were not invited to tender for the work of repainting his Department's houses in the Penrhos Airfield, Pwllheli, especially in view of the unemployment existing in the district; why a firm, operating at a distance of 50 miles from the airfield, and paying lodging allowances to the men it employed to do this work, was given the contract; and whether in future local contractors will be invited to tender for all such work.
§ Mr. BirchAs is the normal practice, tenders for this work were invited from all of the firms which had applied, and been accepted, for inclusion in the appropriate Air Ministry list of approved contractors. The lowest tender was accepted. If there is any firm at Penrhos which wishes to be included in the approved list, I shall be glad to have its application considered.