§ Sir A. Bossomasked the Minister of Works how far it is customary to grant quantity surveyors and others concerned a professional percentage upon the work executed under prime cost or prime cost sums for building contracts entered into by his Department, or for such contracts undertaken for other Government Departments.
§ Mr. MolsonIt is the practice of my Ministry and of the Service Departments not to grant a professional percentage on 229W prime cost sums included in bills of quantities prepared for them unless subcontract bills of quantities have been drawn up for the specific item or items, or professional skill has necessarily been exercised in connection therewith.
§ Sir A. Bossomasked the Minister of Works if he will give details of cases where prime cost or prime cost sums are included in the contract price for any part of important building contracts for his Department or for works for which his Department acts on behalf of other Government Departments; and whether these sums are determined between his Department and the sub-contractor concerned, or are agreed by the quantity surveyor or the architects on behalf of the Government.
§ Mr. MolsonMost important building contracts placed by my Department include some prime cost sums, generally for work of a specialist nature. It is, however, the policy to reduce the number of prime cost items, and, to the greatest possible extent, to include specialist work in the working drawings, specification and bills of quantities of the main contract, placing on the main contractor the full responsibility for pricing and progress of230W the entire work. Where prime cost sums are included in the contract these are determined by the Department's quantity surveyor.