HC Deb 18 July 1966 vol 732 cc22-4W
Mr. Galbraith

asked the Minister of Transport what authority she proposes to give to consulting engineers to settle payment, without reference to her Department, for extra work resulting from changes in specification for commercial contracts, as referred to in chapters 4 and 5 of the Report of the Economic Development Committee for Civil Engineering on Efficiency in Road Construction.

Mr. Swingler

The relevant recommendation of the Report is being considered.

Mr. Galbraith

asked the Minister of Transport what is the average time which her Department takes to approve extra expenditure on motorway contracts recommended by consulting engineers for extra work resulting from changes in specification.

Mr. Swingler

An average time cannot be calculated without an undue expenditure of time and labour.

Mr. Galbraith

asked the Minister of Transport what is the accounting procedure for allocating extra finance for extra expenditure recommended by consulting engineers resulting from changes in specification to motorway contracts.

Mr. Swingler

Provisions for expenditure on motorway contracts are based on forecasts originating from consulting engineers of the payments expected to become due during the coming year. These forecasts take into account extra expenditure arising from the changes referred to, along with other factors. They are kept under review during the course of the year, and Supplementary Estimates would be presented to Parliament if this proved to be necessary.

Mr. Galbraith

asked the Minister of Transport what is the procedure for authorising consulting engineers to give instructions to motorway contractors to proceed with extra work resulting from changes in the specification of the contract.

Mr. Swingler

Written instructions are issued by the Ministry.

Mr. Galbraith

asked the Minister of Transport what authority consulting engineers have to sanction payment, without prior approval of her Department, for claims resulting from extra costs arising other than for changes in specification, variations and extra work ordered by the consulting engineer.

Mr. Swingler

Under the conditions of Contract the engineer is required to certify all payments falling within the contract terms. Extra contractual claims must be referred to the Ministry.

Mr. Galbraith

asked the Minister of Transport what is the average time which elapses before a motorway contractor is paid for extra costs arising other than for changes in specification, variations and extra work ordered by the consulting engineer.

Mr. Swingler

Less than fourteen days from the date of certification of properly admissible expenditure by the consulting engineers.

Mr. Galbraith

asked the Minister of Transport if she will list in respect of each motorway the outstanding sums to date for extra costs resulting from recommendations of consulting engineers.

Mr. Swingler

The only outstanding sum resulting from a recommendation for payment by a consulting engineer is an amount of £195,000 in respect of an extra-contractual matter arising from a contract on the M4 Motorway.

Mr. Galbraith

asked the Minister of Transport if she will show claims on motorway contracts as a percentage of tender prices for each year between 1961 and 1966.

Mr. Swingler

The information for payments made before 1st July, 1964, could not be made available without a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour. The amounts paid as a percentage of tender prices in respect of contracts on which the final claims were settled in the second half of 1964, the whole of 1965 and the first half of 1966 are 7.6, 3.5 and 6.5 respectively.

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