§ 56. Colonel WOODCOCKasked the Secretary of State for Air the cost per house built for married quarters at Halton; and what is the accommodation provided?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir Samuel Hoare)The average cost of the married airmen's quarters erected at Halton works out at £561, exclusive of external services, such as roads, drains, etc., the accommodation consists of two bedrooms, living room, scullery, bathroom and sanitary facilities.
§ Colonel WOODCOCKMay I ask whether these houses are made of cork, and why the Air Force wants cork houses; and, in relation to the high expenditure, is that not in keeping with the general extravagance of the Air Force?
§ Sir S. HOAREIn the first place, these houses, as far as I know, are not made of cork. I must repudiate my hon. Friend's suggestion that this price is an illustration of the extravagance of the buildings in the Air Force. It compares favourably with similar buildings, whether civil or military, in other parts of the country.
§ Colonel WOODCOCKWill the right hon. Gentleman take the opportunity of consulting the Public Accounts Committee's Report where it states that these houses are made of cork?
§ Mr. SMITHERSWill the right hon. Gentleman allow me to give him the price of a house, four models of which were inspected the other day by the Minister of Health, and which comes out at half this price, with much more accommodation than I gather these have?
§ Sir S. HOAREI should be very glad if the hon. Gentleman would give me the figures.
§ Sir J. NALLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these married quarters erected by the Air Ministry make a very good example which the Ministry of Health and local authorities might copy, and will he take steps to acquaint them with the type of house?
§ Sir S. HOAREI am very much obliged to my hon. Friend.