§ 38. Mr. Butcherasked the Minister of Health whether, as the programme of 3,000 houses for agricultural workers is virtually completed, he will arrange for the building of a further 3,000 houses to assisting in meeting the acute housing shortage in the countryside.
§ Mr. WillinkI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Sir P. Hurd) on 18th January.
§ Mr. ButcherIs my right hon. and learned Friend aware that this need is becoming ever greater in the countryside? As it was possible to build these houses under still more difficult conditions than we are experiencing even at the present time, surely he can make a more satisfactory reply?
§ Mr. WillinkI can assure my hon. Friend that the difficulties we are experiencing now are far greater than those which existed at that date.
§ Mr. KirkwoodWill the Minister not consider the advisability of urging the Cabinet to revise their decision to stop house building during the war, and to get on with house building in the same way as they are getting on with the war?
§ Mr. WillinkSo far as Scotland is concerned, perhaps my hon. Friend will put his question to the Secretary of State for Scotland.
§ Mr. KirkwoodI am not here to represent Scotland only. I represent the A.E.U., with 1,000,000 members from the whole of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
§ Mr. ButcherMay I say that, in view of the great importance of the question, I shall also be there?