43. Mr. WILLIAM ADAMSONasked the Secretary for Scotland whether the Scottish Board of Health has come to any new decision regarding the construction of houses in Scotland in steel or other alternative method; whether any pressure is to be brought to bear on Scottish local authorities to undertake such construction in order to participate in the special additional subsidy recently announced by the Prime Minister in Scotland; and, if so, what policy is to be adopted in the regulation of wages for the operatives concerned?
§ Sir J. GILMOURIn reply to the first part of the question, I take it that my right hon. Friend is referring to the proposals outlined by the Prime Minister on 1st October and set out in the circular of 3rd October which the Scottish Board of Health addressed to all local authorities in Scotland regarding the allowance of an additional subsidy of £40 per house, subject to conditions detailed in the circular. The Board have now issued to local authorities a list of firms who have been approved for the purposes of that circular, and have invited local authorities to submit by 14th December their proposals for participation in the subsidy. In reply to the second part of the question, I am most anxious that local authorities should take advantage of the offer of the additional subsidy and shall do everything I can to persuade them to do so. With regard to the third part, in order to qualify for subsidy, contracts must contain the Fair Wages Clause as provided in Government contracts. The Government has already intimated its 1138 acceptance of the Bradbury Committee's Report on this subject.
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe list will, I think, be in the public Press. There are four firms whose names have been submitted to the local authority.
§ Mr. STEPHENWill the right hon. Gentleman give the names.
§ Sir J. GILMOURCorolite Construction, Limited, Cowie, Sons, Limited, James Jones and Sons, and G. and J. Weir, Limited.
§ 50. Mr. T. KENNEDYasked the Prime Minister, if he has considered the protest of the National Building and Engineering Federation against the promise recently given of an increased subsidy to Scotland on houses of a particular construction; whether an opportunity of Parliamentary discussion will be afforded this Session of the financial and other consequences of this increased subsidy; if it is proposed that the increased subsidy shall under any circumstances apply to other forms of house construction; and, if not, whether consideration has been given to the effect that this increased subsidy will have on the general building industry?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI have been asked to reply to this question. The protest referred to has been considered. An opportunity for Parliamentary discussion will be given when the Vote of the Scottish Board of Health is presented. The increased subsidy was proposed for houses of any alternative construction which did not require more than 10 per cent. of skilled building trade labour; and the houses now approved by the Scottish Board of Health are of various types including concrete, timber and "steel." This increased subsidy is for a limited number of houses forming only a small fraction of the Scottish needs, and I am quite unable to see that it will have any prejudicial effect on the general building industry.
§ Mr. KENNEDYHas the Prime Minister considered the proprietry of 1139 these payments being made without Parliamentary approval?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)I do not think that question arises.
§ Mr. BUCHANANWill the right hon. Gentleman stop this practice of making impromptu speeches in which he commits the House of Commons to definite policies without us knowing anything about them?