§ Mr. Allasonasked the Minister of Public Building and Works by what methods he plans to ensure that the costing system of his directly employed labour force will provide for a fair basis of comparison with the tenders of private contractors.
§ Mr. John SilkinDetailed instructions are being issued which will incorporate the experience gained in recent investiga-48W tions and dicussions on the ground and in a number of trial comparisons. The comparisons themselves will be between the cost of work carried out by directly employed labour and the cost which would have been incurred if the work had been executed under the appropriate local term contract. Particular care is being taken to ensure that appropriate overhead costs are included on each side of the comparison.
§ Mr. Allasonasked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will make a statement on the review of the productivity of the directly employed labour force of his Department taking place in the Bristol area.
§ Mr. John SilkinThe management consultants submitted their report a few days ago, and it is still being studied.
§ Mr. Allasonasked the Minister of Public Building and Works at how many area depots of his Department were surveys done of his directly employed labour force after the conclusion of the Bournemouth area survey; how many men are employed at those depots; and what percentage of his directly employed labour force they represent.
§ Mr. John SilkinFollowing on the Bournemouth area survey, work began early this year on the review of D.E.L. in all the other areas and depots. In addition. there were consultations at Regional level covering the whole field of 29,000 men in over 300 different depots. The costings part of these reviews will now he completed in accordance with the instructions I am issuing to implement my new D.E.L. policy.