asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation why the contract recently given by his Department to the Feltham Sand and Gravel Company Limited was not put out to public tender.

The company is being granted a lease of gravel-bearing land at Heston owned by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in return for the sale by the company to the Ministry of a gravel bearing site at Stanwell. The company had already received planning consent to excavate there but the site is now required for housing London Airport employees.

In view of the business relationship in another connec- tion between the chairman of this company and the Parliamentary Secretary's brother, would it not hare been wiser, in order to prevent disquieting rumours getting about, to put this contract out to public tender?

I was completely unaware that there was any connection in any shape or form and I should very much doubt it, but I accept the hon. Gentleman's statement. My brother is an accountant but what he is associated with, goodness alone knows.