§ Mr. Trewasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice she has given to education authorities and to the University Grants Committee on the use of design and construct contracts for building projects.
§ Mrs. ThatcherI have issued no specific advice. Local education authorities are generally free to make any contractual arrangements, including design and construct contracts, that comply with their standing orders but they have to seek my approval before departing from the practice of competitive tendering. Before giving approval in such cases I need to be satisfied that the arrangements will result in speedier or more economical provision of buildings of acceptable quality.
261WThe same principles are applied by the University Grants Committee in considering building proposals from universities.