asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state when it is proposed to bring into operation the provisions of the Local Authorities (Combined Purchasing) Act, 1939, and the reasons for the delay in doing so.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Authorities (Combined Purchasing) Act.
During the emergency when there was a shortage of supplies and costs were subject to variation during the period of contracts, it was necessary to take powers by means of Emergency Powers Orders to allow variations in contract prices when increases were shown to have arisen in consequence of the European War. By doing so contractors, who were appointed as official contractors to local authorities, had an assurance that their claims would be treated fairly and it was largely as a consequence of the action so taken that local bodies were enabled to obtain their proper share of supplies throughout the emergency. My Department rendered valuable help to local bodies in this respect by determining variations in contract prices and assisting in the delivery of supplies which were urgently needed. The position has not yet rectified itself sufficiently to warrant the dispensing of arrangements which were so successful during the emergency period. It is, however, the intention to bring the provisions of the 1939 Act into operation as soon as the commodities required by local bodies are in regular supply and normal competition may be expected.
May I draw the attention of the Parliamentary Secretary to the fact that the 1939 Act. contained a clause relating to fair wages whereas the Act of 1925 did not, and that, therefore, the inoperation of the Act for so long a period prevents members of trade unions and others who may be interested in the fair wages clause from invoking that particular assistance?