§ 27. Mr. Gerald Williamsasked the Minister of Health if he has made inquiries as to how many small builders who are not in a position to take building contracts for new houses, but who would be able to undertake reconditioning of rural and other houses in England, are available.
§ 28. Mr. Anthony Nuttingasked the Minister of Health whether he has yet received the Report of the Central Housing Advisory Committee on the avalilability of building labour for rural housing; and what action he is taking to deal with the rural housing problem.
§ Mr. BevanI have asked the Rural Housing Sub-Committee of -my Central Housing Advisory Committee to advise me whether the reconditioning of rural cottages could be carried out without diverting labour from the building of new houses, but I have not yet received their report.
§ Mr. WilliamsIn view of the fact that there are 140 such builders in the county of Kent alone, will not the right hon. Gentleman do something to help us in reconditioning rural houses?
§ Mr. BevanIf there are 140 builders in the county of Kent available for building, the local authorities will be happy to use them in building new houses, which is what the rural workers want, and not reconditioned tied cottages.
§ Mr. NuttingIs the Minister aware that the Leicestershire County Council arc a long way ahead of the Central Housing Advisory Committee, and investigated this question the other day and found that the reconditioning of rural houses would in no way prejudice the supply of building labour available for building new houses?
§ Mr. BevanI have not yet understood that it is the desire of Parliament to substitute a county council report for a Parliamentary report.