§ 61. Mr. JOHNSTONasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that houses built by the Building Workers' Guild at Irlam were £260 cheaper than the same size and quality of houses built by profit-making contractors; that houses built by the Office of Works at Pontypridd were £194 per house cheaper than the private contractors' prices; that the direct labour scheme at Norwich saved the city £25,000 on contractors' prices; that direct labour at Tonbridge saved £200 per house; that direct labour at Southgate saved £350 per house; and that direct labour at Bentley saved £200 per house; and if he will see that facilities and encouragement are given to local authorities to set up local works departments?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYI am unable to check the figures given by my hon. Friend, and shall be glad to hear from him on what they are based. In some of the cases to which he refers the final accounts of the housing schemes have not yet been received. I am quite prepared to encourage a local authority to undertake building by direct labour if satisfied that the authority can make efficient arrangements for the supervision of the work, and that the method is likely to prove financially advantageous to the ratepayers.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of these figures were given from the Front Bench several years ago by Sir Alfred Mond, when he was in a position to speak with authority on the subject?
§ Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEIs it not a fact that the figures now quoted do not include overhead or departmental charges at all, and that in many cases the accounts have not yet been settled?
§ Mr. SUNLIGHTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the failures of attempts to build houses in this way?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYI had not any previous knowledge of these figures; I have seen them now for the first time. My answer is based on my own experience in other places.