HC Deb 28 February 1978 vol 945 cc132-3W
Mr. Michael Latham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has proposed any new contract clauses to be introduced into his Department's construction contract GC/Works/1, dealing with counter-inflation policy; whether he will place a copy of them in the Library; and when he anticipates these new clauses taking effect.

Mr. Shore

I have placed in the Library copies of the new conditions which are being used in General Conditions of Government Contract GC/Works/1. They have been included in tender documents issued since last week.

Mr. Michael Latham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to request the Joint Contracts Tribunal to amend the standard form of contract for building work to include counter-inflation clauses along the lines of his own proposed amendments to the DOE Contract GS/Works/1; and whether he will give an assurance that no contractor will be blacklisted for central Government work if he, or one of his sub-contractors, fails to observe the voluntary stage 3 arrangements in carrying out local government building work in accordance with the Royal Institute of British Architects standard form.

Mr. Shore

A clause suitable for use with the standard form of building contract has been drafted and will be used, mainly for health services work. The Joint Contracts Tribunal will be kept informed.

As stated in the "Attack on Inflation after 31st July 1977", Cmnd. 6882, paragraph 16, where a firm has reached a settlement which is quite clearly inconsistent with the policies set out in the White Paper the Government will take this into account in public purchasing policy and the placing of contracts.