§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to compensate contractors invited to bid to construct a new road bridge across the Firth of Forth at Queensferry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 30 November 1993] : We have suggested that unsuccessful tenderers in any competition might have a proportion of their properly incurred bid costs up to £500,000 reimbursed by the successful tenderer. Tenderers might also be required to lodge a bond, for a similar amount, designed to secure conforming bids. These measures are consistent with practices elsewhere in the construction industry in relation to projects of such size and complexity where bid costs can be very large. They will stimulate competition to the ultimate benefit of users of the facilities.
No decision on whether or not to proceed to tender will be made until the results of feasibility studies now under way are available.