§ 32. Mr. MACQUISTENasked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, why the houses erected for forestry employés in Argyll are covered with foreign tiles when there are active slate quarries in the county producing slates of greater durability than any tiles, and more in harmony with the surroundings of such houses?
§ Sir LEOLIN FORESTIER - WALKER (Forestry CommissionerCourtrai tiles were used instead of Ballachulish slates because a reduction in cost of £18 for each house and outbuildings was thereby effected. The tiles are of proved durability in exposed situations. Great quantities have been used on recent housing schemes in Great Britain.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs the hon. Member aware that there are other quarries beside those at Ballachulish, and I would like to ask if any estimates were obtained of the cost of using that slate instead of these foreign tiles?
§ Sir L. FORESTIER-WALKERAs far as I know, the only estimate came from the Ballachulish quarry, and that made a difference of £18 per house.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs the hon. Member aware that there are four quarries in that district from which these slates might have been obtained?
§ Sir L. FORESTIER-WALKERI am not aware of it. I have no doubt there are other quarries even better than those in Wales.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODDoes this not prove once again that the present Government only pay lip service to the idea of supporting home industries?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a matter of opinion.
§ Sir R. THOMASIs the hon. Member not aware that better and cheaper slates are obtainable from Wales than are obtainable from Scotland?
§ Mr. MACQUISTENHas the hon. Member seen these small houses, and is he not aware that the figure of £18, which he has mentioned, would buy tiles for about two or three of them, and, therefore, the figure of £18 is an absurd figure, and there cannot be that difference in the cost?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODHe does not know his business.