HC Deb 01 March 1944 vol 397 cc1398-9
10. Lieut.-Colonel Dower

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works whether, in a case where, after £100 has been expended on repairs on a single house in a period of 12 months, further urgent repairs become necessary during the 12 months not caused by fresh war damage, it is necessary to obtain a certificate of essentiality from the local authority and a licence from his Department before the repairs can be carried out.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works (Mr. Hicks)

A licence is required from the Ministry of Works, if the cost of the further repairs, together with the cost of the work already carried out on the house in the preceding 12 months, exceeds £100. If the cost of the further repairs does not exceed £500, a Certificate of Essentiality may be obtained from the local authority. Such a certificate, if granted, will assist in obtaining a licence and any controlled materials.

Lieut.-Colonel Dower

Does not my hon. Friend realise that if has been spent in 12 months, and if there are urgent matters like roof leaks or burst pipes to be attended to, there is a serious waste of time before a licence can be obtained?

Mr. Hicks

It is not necessarily true. It is a question of putting in an application for a licence. That is not to say that the work will not be licensed.

Lieut.-Colonel Dower

Does my hon. Friend realise that it takes a good long time to get a licence?

Mr. Hicks

I do not think that is true.

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