10. Sir GEORGE HAMILTONasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he can arrange with the Minister of Health to utilise English-made steel lathing instead of imported wood lathing in all his new housing schemes, on the same lines as he is proposing to utilise steel sleepers?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Miss Lawrence)I have been asked to reply. The Minister of Health is prohibited by Section 10 of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924, from imposing any condition which would prevent materials required for any State-aided housing scheme being purchased in the cheapest market at home or abroad. English-made steel lathing is appreciably higher in prime cost than wood lathing but possesses some advantage, and the Minister would raise no objection if a local authority specified the use of this article.