23. Wing-Commander Jamesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works if the costing section of his Department is now working; and if he can now explain the considerable rise that has taken place in the cost of house building, giving an analysis of its cause.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works (Mr. Hicks)Yes, Sir. As my Noble Friend has explained in another place, one of the purposes of the erection of demonstration houses is to obtain comparative costs of house building on an accurate basis. I shall be pleased to let the hon. and gallant Member see the results after the houses are completed.
Wing-Commander JamesCan my hon. Friend say how soon I can put down a question in order that other Members may also see the results?
§ Mr. HicksProvided that we do not get any unusual disturbance in the country and that the labour is available, I should say in about six weeks.
§ Mr. ShinwellIn so far as the increased cost of house building may be attributable to the increased cost of material, haw does that square with the Government's policy of preventing inflation?
§ Mr. HicksTo give a detailed analysis of the rising costs of building materials, transport and other things would require a long time indeed. Of course, any one thing that is inflated, tends to increase inflation.