§ 32. Major PRESCOTTasked the Minister of Health whether he can give the average number of bricks laid per day by the bricklayers on the Gorton Mount estate, Manchester; whether houses built by direct labour on this estate are costing £120 less than precisely the same house let to builders by contract; whether some explanation will be given to the House as to why contract dwellings carried out under the supervision of the Ministry are so needlessly expensive; and if he will state what 261 steps are being taken in the public interest to bring about a revision of the existing contracts?
§ Sir A. MONDComplete information as to the number of bricks laid per day on this scheme is not available, but such information as I have indicates that an average of about 500 per day is being obtained. No houses have been completed by direct labour and no final costs are available for any houses on this site. A comparison cannot therefore be made at present between the costs of the houses being erected by direct labour and of those being built under contract. I am not prepared to accept the implication in the latter part of the question and I am personally going into the matter at the earliest opportunity.
§ Major PRESCOTTAs I have already got the information, would the right hon. Gentleman like a copy of it?
§ Sir A. MONDI should be very pleased.