§ 41. Lord EUSTACE PERCYasked the Minister of Health whether he has received any written guarantee or offer from the building trade, other than the Report of the National House Building Committee, or any written intimation from the trade that they regard his arrangement with the local authorities as satisfying the conditions laid down in that Report; and, if so, whether he will communicate to the House in full the terms of the communications in question?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYThe offer from the building trade is contained in the Report to which the Noble Lord refers.
§ Lord E. PERCYWould the right hon. Gentleman reply to the last part of my question, whether any intimation has been received by the Minister that the trade regard the arrangement made by the Minister with the local authorities as satisfying the conditions laid down in the Report?
§ Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEDo I understand the right hon. Gentleman to state that the Bricklayers' Union have now definitely agreed to this Report?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYI have no evidence that there is any dissatisfaction with the arrangement in the building industry. I can assure the Noble Lord that he may rest content that everything is proceeding very smoothly and satisfactorily.
§ Lord E. PERCYHas the Minister received any intimation that the building trade is satisfied with the waiving of certain conditions which they specifically laid down?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYNo. I have already stated that I have had no indication that they are not satisfied.
§ Mr. SOMERVILLEMay I have a reply to my question?
§ 63. Sir K. WOODasked the Minister of Health what arrangements, if any, have been made whereby adult building trade labourers can be utilised for augmenting craftsmen's labour in connection with the Government's housing scheme?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYThe building industry propose that building trade labourers shall be accepted as apprentices under their scheme for augmenting the industry; and while apprentices are ordinarily to be accepted up to the age of 20, special arrangements may be made in the case of building trade labourers.
§ Mr. HOPE SIMPSONCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether this means that a labourer will have to serve four years as an apprentice before he becomes a bricklayer?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYIt does not lie with me to determine when a man ceases to be an apprentice.
§ Mr. SOMERVILLEIs it not a fact that the Bricklayers' Union objects to any 2116 man coming in over 20 years of age who has not served an apprenticeship?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYIt is not a fact.