§ 48. Sir W. Smithersasked the Lord President of the Council how many standards of wood have been used for the Festival of Britain.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI assume that the Question refers to the Festival of Britain Exhibition, and would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Surrey, East (Mr. Astor), on 20th November.
§ Sir W. SmithersWhatever the amounts are, in view of the fact that the official allocation for one house is 1.6 standards, will the right hon. Gentleman oblige by dividing the number by 1.6, and thus find out how many houses have been prevented from being built to satisfy the vanity of the Lord President of the Council?
§ Mr. MorrisonI understand that, surprising as it may seem, the hon. Gentleman had a better education than I had. I cannot do the sum. No doubt, he can.
§ Mr. NabarroIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the 750 standards of softwoods to which he referred in his reply on 20th November is the amount of timber required to build no fewer than 500 houses?
§ Mr. MorrisonThe hon. Gentleman is wrong in his figures, and, in any case, 25 per cent. of this timber will be recoverable.
§ 49. Major H. Johnsonasked the Lord President of the Council whether he will now introduce legislation to give to the Brighton festival and the other provincial festivals under the auspices of the Festival Council and the Arts Council of Great Britain the same benefits and immunities as are envisaged in the Festival of Britain (Sunday Opening) Bill.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonNo, Sir.
§ Major JohnsonDoes not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that his reputation in the provinces needs a little redemption, and would he, therefore, this afternoon move an Amendment to the Bill on these lines?
§ Mr. SpeakerWe are not in Committee now.