§ 49. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Transport when she expects to complete the M4.
§ Mr. SwinglerBy 1971.
§ 110. Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Minister of Transport in view of the bankruptcies amongst contractors on the M4, if she will take steps to ensure that in future such contractors are all asked to provide surety bonds as proof of their standing; and if, in addition, she will instruct main contractors to ask their sub-contractors to provide similar bonds.
298W
§ Mr. SwinglerUnder our selective tendering procedure we already make prior inquiry into the financial standing of firms awarded motorway contracts. The failure of one main contractor on M4 would not justify the general introduction of Bonds of Surety. The commercial relationship between the main contractor and his sub-contractors is a matter for the parties concerned, not for my right hon. Friend.