§ Mr. James Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about contracts awarded for the demolition of prefabricated bungalows in South Ayrshire.
§ Mr. AmeryThe prefrabricated houses are owned by the Government and are disposed of when no longer required by the Local Authority in accordance with Housing (Temporary Accommodation) Act, 1944.
The superstructures are sold, normally by competitive tender, either individually or by bulk Term Contract for part or whole sites. Persons invited are those who are considered to be able to pay for and remove the houses and to clear the site properly. Advertisements were recently inserted in Ayrshire local newspapers inviting applications to be placed on the existing list of tenderers in order to increase competition. The foundations are removed when a complete site or a suitable section of a site is clear of houses. Demolition contractors on the Department's Approved list are invited to tender on a competitive basis for this work. Contracts for sale and removal of superstructures are in operation at the following sites in South Ayrshire at the present time: Joppa; Drongan; Auchinleck; Jellieston, Patna; Muirkirk.