§ 9. Mr. HICKSasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the total reduction in building expenditure following the demand for economy during the ensuing year amounts to £55,525,875 in respect of Government Departments and local authorities, a sum which represents 23 per cent. of the normal annual value of building and 12 weeks' unemployment for the total personnel of the building trade (858,170); and whether, seeing that the charge for unemployment insurance benefit will be nearly £9,000,000, he will take steps to encourage wise spending, as the charge for interest on the money involved is less than one-third of the money that will be required for unemployment benefit if all the schemes are suspended?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONAs stated by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health in reply to a question put by the hon. Member for the Hemsworth Division (Mr. Price) there is no reason to think that economies on building by the Government or municipal authorities amount to any sum approaching the figure of £55,500,000 mentioned in the question; I am afraid, therefore, that I cannot accept the calculations which the hon. Member bases upon it. As regards the line to be drawn between wise and unwise spending, my right hon. Friend issued a circular on this subject on 11th September last to local authorities with which, I have no doubt, the hon. Member is familiar.
§ Mr. HICKSHas the right hon. Gentleman taken any steps to check the 1001 accuracy of the figures, or will steps be taken?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe very first item in the sum of £55,000,000 is a large amount in respect of a scheme which was turned down by the last Parliament.
§ Mr. HICKSDoes the right hon. Gentleman not agree that the volume of work which a number of municipal authorities have under consideration was not taken into account and, therefore, that there is the possibility of the figures in question being understated rather than overstated?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONNo, I do not think that at all, but what I am pointing out is that, from the evidence in my possession, I think the figure of £55,000,000 is a very large overstatement.
§ Sir P. HARRISDoes my right hon. Friend realise that in London, as a result of the circular to the local authorities, they have cut down their expenditure on housing by about three-quarters and are cancelling all their contracts and stopping buying any new estates, the result being a large reduction in the numbers employed on house building?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThat is a question that should be addressed to the Minister of Health.
§ Mr. McENTEEIn view of the right hon. Gentleman's refusal to accept these figures, can he supply any figures that he would consider accurate?
§ Mr. SPEAKERMr. Mander.
§ Mr. McENTEEMay I ask for an answer to my question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe have already had a number of questions on these particular points.