§ 5. Mr. Keelingasked the Minister of Health how the maximum approved cost of a house to be built by a local authority compares, respectively, with the maximum cost for which a private builder can get a licence to build and the cost of a 596 temporary aluminium house; and whether in each case the figure includes the cost of land, sewers and other services.
§ Mr. BevanI do not think it would be wise to publish details of maximum approved prices at a time when I am trying to get prices down. Moreover, the types of houses mentioned are not necessarily comparable and I am, therefore, unable to give a valid comparison of the costs. The cost of temporary aluminium houses was given in the White Paper, Cmd. 6686.
§ Mr. KeelingWould the Minister agree that private builders are at a disadvantage in this matter?
§ Mr. SpeakerWe really must get on with the Questions.