§ 17. Mr. Henderson Stewartasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works what orders have been placed for the construction of Portal houses; with whom, at what prices and in what numbers.
§ Mr. HicksThe only orders so far placed in respect of the emergency factory-made house have been for the two 1721 prototypes. Briggs Motor Bodies, Ltd., have built one and the Pressed Steel Company, Ltd., the other. These are hand-made. The eventual prices are being based on mass production.
Mr. StewartCan my hon. Friend give the House an assurance that no such orders will be placed until the promised statements of the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State for Scotland have been made on this matter, and have been considered by the House?
Mr. StewartBut will the hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that no orders for these houses will be placed until the House has expressed a view on the matter?
§ Mr. HicksThe Government have to approve the house before it goes into production, and they have not yet made a statement on the matter. Once the Government have approved the type of house they will make a statement to the House.
§ Mr. WoodburnWill my hon. Friend assure the House that once the Portal house is finally approved, an opportunity will be given for the ingenuity of people in the country to propose the best way to manufacture it and that it will not be made a monopoly of any particular firm?
Mr. StewartI am sorry to press the hon. Gentleman, but what I sought for, with the sympathy of the House, was an assurance that orders for these houses would not be placed until this House had given its approval.
Mr. StewartNo, it is for the hon. Gentleman to speak for his Department. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the hon. Gentleman's replies, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter again on the Adjournment at the first opportunity.