HC Deb 07 July 1943 vol 390 cc2065-6
10. Mr. Wakefield

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production the numbers of houses and bungalows built by or for his Department within a radius of five miles of a town of which he has been informed; their individual cost; and is he satisfied that they are suitable as permanent dwellings?

The Minister of Aircraft Production (Sir Stafford Cripps)

The answer to the first part of the Question is 826; to the second part, £708 on the average. As regards the third part, the bungalows are not intended as permanent dwellings.

Mr. Wakefield

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that these buildings are damp and not even fit for animal let alone human habitation; and, in view of their great cost, could not they have been made of a permanent character instead of time and money being wasted in putting up unsuitable temporary buildings at such cost?

Sir S. Cripps

I am aware that there has been some complaint about the dampness of these buildings. That has, I hope, now been rectified, and at the beginning of last month the secretary of the tenants' association expressed himself as quite satisfied with the conditions of the buildings.

11. Mr. Wakefield

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production the shortest and longest time taken to erect houses and bungalows, built by his Department or on his instructions from the time the decision was made for their erection until they were lived in, within a five mile radius of a town of which he has been informed?

Sir S. Cripps

The shortest time between the decision to erect and the date of occupation was eight months. The longest time cannot be stated since some of the bungalows, though completed many months ago, have not yet been occupied.

Mr. Wakefield

In view of the length of time taken to build these bungalows, does not my right hon. and learned Friend think that they should have been made fit for permanent habitation instead of time and labour being wasted in putting up these unsatisfactory buildings?

Sir S. Cripps

I am afraid that I cannot enter into a consideration of the matters that weighed in 1941 when the decision was made to erect these bungalows.

Mr. Thorne

Are the floors of these bungalows of concrete or boards?

Sir S. Cripps

I cannot say without notice.

Mr. Lipson

In future would it not be a wiser and more economical policy to spend a little more money so as to make these buildings of a permanent character?

Sir S. Cripps

That is being considered in regard to the other buildings.