§ Mr. Urwinasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what delays have occurred in the completion of the Somerset House contract allocated by his Department arising from an official trade union dispute concerning the employment of labour-only subcontractors; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. KaufmanThe painting contractor at Somerset House had given the Department an assurance that the letting of the labour-only subcontract was in accordance with the declaration of intent in the working rules of the NJCBI. However, an unofficial dispute arose on the contract on 16th April and was made official on 17th April. The present estimate is that completion will be delayed by four to five weeks.