§ Mr. Kimballasked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the departmental working party which he has set up to study the effects of direct labour contracts on local authority spending has no representatives from the civil engineering industry; and if he will give an assurance that it is not the policy of his Department to encourage greater use of direct labour by local authorities.
112W
§ Mr. FreesonThe departmental working party will review the organisation and operation of local authority direct labour organisations, including tendering and accounting procedures. I do not consider that it would be appropriate for this purpose to have members from the private sector of the industry, but I have invited the Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors to let me have its views on the wider issues of the future rôle of direct labour organisations in the industry. Subject to the constraints on local authority activities, I wish to see the maximum possible expansion of efficient direct labour organisations.