§ Mr. Bryant Godman Irvineasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the financial and management controls developed by local authorities for their direct labour departments as recommended in Ministry of Housing and Local Government Circular 57/69; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChannonCircular 57/69 commended to local authorities a Manual of Principles of financial and management control for carrying out new construction by direct labour. This was produced by a Working Party on which local authorities were represented, and was based on best current practice. Detailed methods of control are a matter for the discretion of each local authority, but the Circular106W does however ask Local Authorities as a general practice to award contracts to Direct Labour Organisations only after competition or in continuation of contracts which have been the subject of competition. I am keeping the working of this Circular under close review.