§ 42. Mr. ALEXANDER SHAWasked the Secretary for Scotland whether there is any difficulty in obtaining the necessary wood, iron, and plumbing materials for the construction of the 16,000 houses in Scotland for which plans and tenders have been approved by the Scottish Board of Health?
Mr. MUNROI am advised that no difficulty is at present experienced in obtaining the necessary supplies of wood and iron required for the 16,000 houses referred to in the question. As regards plumbing material, the only existing scarcity is in respect of cast-iron rainwater conductors. This is being reduced by the use of galvanised steel.
§ 43. Mr. SHAWasked the Secretary for Scotland the present amount of cement which can be obtained weekly for house construction in Scotland; and how many houses this weekly supply would enable to be constructed in a year?
Mr. MUNROI am advised that the present amount of cement obtainable weekly for house construction in Scotland varies from 300 to 400 tons. This amount is sufficient to enable approximately 2,300 houses to be constructed in a year.
§ Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTMay I ask whether it is adequate for the construction of the houses which have been authorised during the year?
Mr. MUNROI am not sure that I can give an accurate answer to a question like that, but I should like to see more cement.
Mr. TAYLORIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the shortage of houses in Scotland, as compared with the number required to be erected, is 10,000, and that the amount of cement available meets but a very small portion of that demand; and is he also aware that, if cement were more plentiful, and cement blocks could be substituted for bricks or stone, houses could be erected in Scotland very much more quickly?
Mr. MUNROMy hon. Friend is an authority on that subject, I know, and I shall be very happy to confer with him upon it. In the meantime, the whole matter is engaging the attention of the Minister of Health and myself.
§ Mr. M. SCOTTDoes not this show that it is not entirely shortage of labour which is preventing the erection of houses in Scotland?
Captain TERRELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, if the "Pussyfoot" movement be successful in Scotland, there will be a large number of houses vacant?
§ 44. Sir J. HOPEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether the Department of Building Materials Supply in Scotland is entirely under the control of the Scottish Board of Health and no other Government office?
Mr. MUNROThe Department of Building Materials Supply is under the control of the Ministry of Health.
§ 60. Sir J. HOPEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether the Scottish Board 196 of Health can order building materials direct from private firms in England, or whetner the approval of some other Government Departments has first to be obtained?
Mr. MUNROThe ordering of building materials from private firms, whether in England or Scotland, falls within the province of the Director of Building Materials Supply, not of the Scottish Board of Health. The Board have power, however, to authorise local authorities to purchase building material not immediately obtainable from the Building Materials Supply Department from private firms either in Scotland or England.
§ Sir J. HOPEAm I to understand that the supply of building material in Scotland is entirely under the control of the English Ministry of Health and does the right hon. Gentleman not think the Ministry of Health in Scotland should also have control of the supply of building material?
Mr. MUNROI said it was under the control of the Director of Building Materials Supply. The whole situation in regard to that matter is under consideration by the Minister of Health and myself now.