§ 76. Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the Minister of Health if he can state those urban centres of over 50,000 population which are at the present time building houses up to their maximum available capacity in respect of labour and materials?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. Arthur Greenwood)Outside the London district there are 83 urban authorities whose population exceeds 50,000 and practically all of them have had schemes approved under the Housing, Etc., Act, 1923, the total number of houses authorised being 45,325. In none of the districts is there any appreciable unemployment in the essential skilled trades required for house building.
§ Mr. SOMERVILLECan the hon. Gentleman give me a more definite answer. I asked specifically how many towns cannot proceed with building owing to the shortage of labour?
§ Mr. GREENWOODPardon me. That does not seem to be the question. The question was what are those urban centres which are at present building houses up to their maximum available capacity in respect of labour and materials. My answer is that, as regards labour, practically all of them. The question of material does not arise, because you cannot test that figure, but there is the fact that the available labour is fully employed.
§ Mr. SOMERVILLEThey are building up to the present maximum of the labour supply, and they could not increase the output of houses in these centres owing to the want of men.
§ Lord EUSTACE PERCYAre there some of the 83 authorities which have not yet submitted any schemes?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI understand that there are probably one or two. Practically all of them have submitted schemes.