Is there any other way of helping certain contractors to secure bonds after a tender has been accepted by a local authority? Many of them have difficulty in obtaining a bond which would enable them to commence schemes and this adds further to the delay.

Delays depend to some extent on the previous record of contractors. I do not know if there are long delays in regard to this. I do not have any views at present about changing the system of requiring them to have the bond or indemnifying the council. They are obliged to do so.

I accept the necessity to have bonds but the agencies from which to acquire bonds are very limited. Perhaps the Minister might look at that angle of the problem.

As regards the agencies I will look at it but the Department of Industry, Commerce and Energy would be involved with the particular companies making the bonds available.