§ 31. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Minister of Aviation why contracts in 1962–63 for the supply of electronic valves were placed by his Department with firms who neither provided competitive tenders nor allowed cost investigations.
§ Mr. AmeryCompetitive tenders are sought for electronic valves, as for other equipment, wherever practicable. When requirements are for valves which are proprietary to an individual firm or which, for some other reason, are obtainable only from one firm, there is no option but to purchase from that firm. Only one firm has refused cost investigation facilities.