§ Mr. Guy Barnettasked the Minister of Transport if he will name the county councils, including the Greater London Council, which act on behalf of the Government in the construction of trunk roads; which of the county councils named employ direct labour in the fulfilment of Government contracts; which county councils employ contractors; and if he will name in each cases the contractor employed.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeAll county councils, except the Isle of Wight, where there are no trunk roads, may act as agents for the Government in the construction of trunk roads, generally for schemes estimated to cost less than £2½ million. For schemes estimated to cost £100,000 or less, a county may carry out the work by direct labour. For schemes costing more than £100,000 the work is only undertaken by direct labour organisations if they tender successfully in competition with private contractors. The list of contractors employed by counties in fulfilment of trunk road contracts is not readily available.