§ Sir A. Bossomasked the Minister of Works if he w ill recommend to all other Ministers whose Departments require buildings to be constructed for them in built-up areas of Great Britain, that they would gain substantially in price and also in time of construction, if they would require that, before inviting competitive tenders, every drawing needed to complete the work, including the full-size drawings, as well as complete specifications, also the complete bill of quantities, so that no prime cost sums are required, should be given to the contractors before submitting their estimates.
§ Mr. MolsonIt is a part of the Government's policy of fixed-price tendering, which all Departments have operated since April, 1957, that projects should be fully planned before tenders are invited and prime cost items reduced to a minimum. The undoubted benefits of this policy are well-known to Departments and to local authorities. I understand that the great majority of suitable contracts let by Government Departments, local authorities and the nationalised industries are of this character. I hope the advantages of this kind of tendering is becoming more generally recognised by private building owners.