HC Deb 14 July 1943 vol 391 cc179-81
28. Mr. Driberg

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works whether he will consider employing Italian prisoners of war in the building of rural houses?

Mr. Hicks

Every prisoner of war who can be spared from agricultural work and other work of vital importance at the present time is already being employed on the construction of Prisoner of War Camps and similar work. The number of craftsmen among the prisoners is small and the building of rural cottages in small numbers on a large number of isolated sites is not considered suitable work on which to employ prisoners of war.

Mr. Driberg

If further large numbers of prisoners arrive in this country, will the matter be reconsidered then?

Mr. Hicks

I think my hon. Friend had better put that Question down at a later stage.

Commander Locker-Lampson

Why not employ German prisoners? What is the point of taking them and not using them?

Mr. Hicks

My answer was, "prisoners of war." I did not specialise.

Mr. Colegate

Could not Italian prisoners who are in rural areas be employed in repairing farm buildings which are rapidly deteriorating?

30. Mr. Wakefield

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works whether the same facilities to obtain labour and materials for building agricultural cottages will be given to the small builders as those given to the large contractors?

Mr. Hicks

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Wakefield

While I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for his reply, is he aware that there is a feeling among the small contractors that men would not be directed to them from the large contractors in the same way as men had been taken away from small contractors and directed to the large contractors in recent years? Is he further aware that his answer will give great satisfaction to these small contractors, who play such an important part in the life of the country?

Mr. Hicks

I thank my hon. Friend for his remarks. All the work will be given W.B.A. priority, the materials will be speeded up for their use, and if there are any difficulties in regard to either one or the other, I shall only be too happy to help.

Mr. Loftus

Will the Minister give every facility for the use of local material and not attempt to impose a cast-iron plan at the centre specifying all the materials to be used?

Mr. Hicks

We are flexible.