50. Major OWENasked the Minister of Health if he will press upon all local authorities engaged in housing schemes aided by Government subsidies to give preference to British materials on the lines adopted by the London County Council and other local authorities?
§ Miss LAWRENCEMy right hon. Friend has already issued a circular, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. and gallant Member, urging local authorities to make use, to the utmost extent practicable, of goods and materials of home production or manufacture.
Major OWENIn view of the fact that a large number of public authorities are using foreign slates for their housing schemes and that after a period of only 984 three years they have had to be stripped, will the hon. Lady convey to her right hon. Friend that it is necessary to exert something more than ordinary pressure in this case?
§ Miss LAWRENCEIf the hon. Member will peruse the circular, I think that it will give him satisfaction. I will convey his remarks to my right hon. Friend.
§ Major NATHANIs the hon. Lady aware of the fact that the practice adopted by the London County Council has involved the diversion from the building of houses for working-class people of money otherwise available for that purpose, and has increased working-class rents and rates?