§ 35. Mr. HICKSasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Stevenage Urban District Council advertised for tenders for the erection of 80 non-parlour houses; that the lowest tender, £26,000, was sanctioned by the Department, subject to certain alterations which reduced the tender to £25,583 17s. lad.; that upon the contractor being invited to sign he discovered an error of £1,119 in the original estimate which increased the price by this amount; that the next lowest tender was for £27,120, and by deducting £720 on 495 account of the Department's proposed alterations it became the lowest tender; that the Department has refused to sanction this tender and has asked the local authority to advertise for further tenders; and whether, in view of the delay which this will cause and of the unemployment in the district, he will reconsider this matter?
§ Sir H. YOUNGAs the price of the lowest effective tender was considerably in excess of the prices now being generally obtained, I asked the Council to invite fresh tenders on the basis of amended plans and specifications. I see no sufficient reason to alter this decision, which need involve no serious delay.