56. Mr. Bosomasked the Minister of Works whether he has considered installing assembling plants for prefabricated materials so enabling a saving of time and cost in post-war housing schemes.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works (Mr. Hicks)For the purpose of the temporary housing programme steps have already been taken to set up depots where prefabricated components are assembled for distribution to sites. We already have in mind the possibilities of similar arrangements for the components of permanent houses when these come into production.
§ Mr. BossomWould my hon. Friend look into this question again and see whether it is possible to have them in the major regions, because it has been proved that where they have been used not only money but time as well has been saved?
§ Mr. HicksI can assure my hon. Friend that the country is well covered with the depots we are now setting up; we have roughly 240,000 square feet available at this moment and are speeding up to well over 1,000,000 square feet.