§ 33. Major MOULTONasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that under a scheme sanctioned by his Department the Salisbury City Council built houses on which 79 per cent. of the labour employed was unskilled; that such houses were in all respects excellent; that their cost was £200 each less than that of similar houses built by contract at the 355 same place and time; and whether he will publish the details of the scheme under which they were built?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. Arthur Greenwood)My right hon. Friend is aware that the Salisbury City Council, under a special direct labour scheme for training ex-service men, built 20 houses of concrete. The cost of these houses was approximately £792 each, and an estimate of the labour costs shows a saving of £75 a house over the labour costs if the houses had been built at contract prices. The total difference in cost as compared with brick houses built by contract during the same period quoted by the hon. Member seems to need adjustment for difference in the size of the houses, but it was substantial. The houses were built of concrete blocks or slabs made on the site, and a large proportion of labour by trainees unskilled in the building trades was employed. The conditions in this case were somewhat special. My right hon. Friend has no doubt that the city council will be pleased to furnish information on points of detail to anyone interested.
§ Major MOULTONDoes the hon. Gentleman not think, in view of the very heavy expenditure on building which this House is asked to sanction, that any information which would lead to economy should be placed at the disposal of the House?