HC Deb 08 July 1937 vol 326 cc547-8
30. Mr. McEntee

asked the Miinster of Health whether any local authorities in England and Wales have decided to postpone housing schemes or to reduce schemes already approved by them, owing to the rise in the prices of building; and will he give the names of such authorities?

Sir K. Wood

I understand that postponements have occurred in Leeds, Brighton, Southampton, Oswaldtwistle, and in the rural district of Marlborough and Ramsbury, because the tenders received were too high for acceptance.

Mr. Lewis

Will the right hon. Gentleman encourage local authorities to postpone any schemes until the present abnormal demand for labour consequent on the rearmament programme has passed its peak?

Mr. Paling

In the cases in which the authorities refused to go on with the contracts, were the contract prices higher than the 8 per cent. mentioned in the previous answer?

Sir K. Wood

I should like an opportunity to examine the figures.

Mr. R. J. Taylor

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the effect that this is likely to have on his slum clearance policy, and will he, as early as possible, allay the anxieties of local authorities by informing them how long they will have to carry out their proposal?

Sir K. Wood

I have already made an announcement.

Mr. McEntee

Is the right hon. Gentleman trying to induce local authorities to postpone their schemes or to carry them out?

Sir K. Wood

I am suggesting to local authorities that they should test the market periodically. The answer I gave refers only to a small number of cases. In other cases tenders have been rejected and other tenders obtained.

Mr. Thorne

Unless you force local authorities to do something in this direction there will be overcrowding and they will be liable to be summoned at the police court.