§ 70. Mr. HARDIEasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the inadequate supply and the increase in the price of bricks, he will arrange for the manufacture of hollow concrete building blocks; and if he is aware that this production of building materials can be carried on all the year round in any of the existing Government War buildings not in use at present?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYAs at present proposed, it is not the intention of the Government to undertake the direct manufacture of building materials.
§ Mr. HARDIEIn view of the unemployment, and the fact that this would immediately take men off the streets and put them into work, why is it that the Minister of Health or the Government do not do something to take some men off the streets?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYI am not questioning the wisdom of employing men in the manufacture of these blocks. I have been asked a question only as to whether the Government were the proper authority to do it One of the reasons for not doing it is that a Government is not a builder of houses. This work should be undertaken by the local authorities or by the builders.
§ Mr. HARDIEMy question does not deal with the building of houses but with the manufacture of building materials. and I want an answer.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that his individualist practice falls behind the practice of the Coalition Minister of Health, who set the Government to building houses?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYI am submitting that it is much wiser to allow a local authority in its own area to make concrete blocks near the site of the building by collective or Socialist measures, than to adopt the comparatively foolish method of having the blocks made in London and shipped from here to the north of Scotland.
§ Mr. HARDIEI want to protest. This is an Irishman's witty attempt to evade a question, but it will not work. The blocks made in Glasgow are made from the destructor clinker of the Glasgow Corporation. If the right hon. Gentleman knew anything about the business he would know that.