§ Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of new capital building work awarded to local authority direct labour departments is now being obtained in competition.
§ Mr. ChannonThis information is not available. Ministry of Housing and Local Government Circular 57/69 asks local authorities as a general practice to award contracts for new construction to direct 111W labour organisations only after competition or in continuation of contracts which have been the subject of competition. The circular allows, however, for consideration of proposals for work to be given to a direct labour organisation without competition—which term includes continuation contracts—where this is in the interests of continuity and efficiency. As I said in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Rye (Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine) on 9th November, the working of this circular is being kept under close review.