HC Deb 14 February 1945 vol 408 cc214-7
40. Lieut.-Colonel Dower

asked the Minister of Works the present position where, through enemy action, immediate first-aid repairs are urgently required to be carried out to a building; and whether owners or tenants are authorised to carry out such urgent work themselves, instead of waiting sometimes several weeks for local authorities to take the necessary action.

41. Sir Leonard Lyle

asked the Minister of Works how far his regulations envisage the prosecution of tenants or occupants of houses who carry out repairs themselves without employing outside labour and without using material other than what they themselves possess.

Mr. Sandys

Householders are, of course, free to carry out their own repairs themselves provided that if the work costs more than £10 in the case of South-East England or £100 in other parts of the country, they obtain a licence. In estimating cost account is taken of all materials used, whether purchased or previously in the possession of the householder. However, the value of the householder's own labour is not reckoned in the cost.

Lieut.-Colonel Dower

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in many cases the £10 has already been spent, and that there is often not time, when fresh damage has been caused by enemy action, to fill up forms? Cannot he authorise the spending of £3, £4 or £5 in cases of urgent necessity for immediate repairs of such things as burst pipes, when householders cannot wait for permission?

Mr. Sandys

Yes, Sir, provision is made for that.

Lieut.-Colonel Dower

Not in my right hon. Friend's answer.

Mr. Sandys

Provision is given for emergency action in cases such as burst pipes.

Lieut.-Colonel Dower

Even if the £10 limit has been reached?

Mr. Sandys

Yes, Sir.

Sir L. Lyle

Is it not a fact that in many cases people have been prosecuted and fined for using material which they had themselves and for giving their own labour? Is not that bureaucracy run mad?

Mr. Sandys

I am looking into this question myself to see that this regulation, which is, basically, absolutely necessary and sound, is not applied with undue rigidity. There will always be isolated cases, in which a regulation is not being sensibly applied, but I believe they are very few. It is, however, particularly difficult to apply this regulation to those who do their own work or carry out their own building, but I am looking specifically into this type of case.

43. Major Peto

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the large amount of property in the London area which would be available as accommodation if there could be some increase in the limit of £10 per annum for repairs; and if he can give any indication when he proposes to amend this limit.

Mr. Sandys

I do not know to what accommodation my hon. and gallant Friend is referring. Any labour needed for such a project could, of course, only be obtained by withdrawing it from other war damage repair work at present being undertaken. In view of the large amount of outstanding repair and maintenance work in the London area, I do not see any prospect of relaxing the licensing limit for some time to come.

Major Peto

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are thousands of people tramping the streets of London for weeks on end while there are plenty of houses in which they could be accommodated? It is a matter of a few pounds.

Mr. Sandys

We have a limited amount of building labour to do an enormous job. We are trying to spread a very little butter over a very large piece of bread. It is a question of priorities. These are, in the main, allocated with a view to obtaining the maximum number of dwellings for the labour expended.

Major Peto

May I send my right hon. Friend a letter on the subject?

Mr. Sandys

Certainly.

Commander Locker-Lampson

Why not employ German prisoners of war?

53. Mr. Lewis

asked the Minister of Works why it is that, at a time when no buildings repairs exceeding £10 in value are allowed without a licence in London and the Home Counties when such repairs are most urgently required, building repairs up to £100 in value are allowed without a licence in the rest of the county when they are not nearly so urgent.

Mr. Sandys

The purpose of the reduced licensing limit in London and the Home Counties is, to concentrate, as far as possible, the limited building labour and materials upon bomb damage repairs and other essential work. However, I am aware of the rapidly accumulating arrears of repair and maintenance work in other parts of the country. I should, therefore, be prepared to consider sympathetically any requests for the extension of the £10 licensing limit from local authorities in other areas where particular difficulties are being experienced.

Mr. Lewis

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the policy that he is following results in materials and labour which might and should be available in London and some of the Home Counties being used for less essential purposes in other parts of the country?

Mr. Sandys

That just is not so.

Mr. Bellenger

On what basis does the right hon. Gentleman work when he imposes a £10 limit on London and some of the Home Counties and does not extend that to the rest of the country?

Mr. Sandys

London's need has been greater and more pressing and one hesitates to impose these restrictions unless it is absolutely necessary. I think it may very well become necessary in certain other areas and I shall not be at all surprised if I get requests from some of the larger provincial authorities asking that the lower limit should be extended to them, in order to enable them to use their labour more efficiently.

Sir Alfred Beit

Would not the universal extension of the limit mean the attraction of more building labour from London?

Mr. Sandys

No, Sir.