§ Mr. Norman Fowlerasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on his Department's policy concerning a contract placed with the firm of T. Baker and Sons, Tipton, Staffordshire, and now cancelled stating (a) why the contract was cancelled, (b) how long T. Baker and Sons had been working for his Department and (c) any 638W additional cost to public funds involved in letting a new contract.
§ Dr. GilbertNo contract with T. Baker and Sons (Transport) Ltd. has been cancelled. The firm has for some years undertaken transport work for the Ministry of Defence on a day-to-day basis, but as the firm is in breach of the pay guidelines, alternative arrangements have now been made. This will involve some slight extra cost in the short term, but as freight rates are subject to frequent changes it is not possible to quantify the amount.