§ 44. Sir T. Mooreasked the Minister of Health how many new houses, permanent or temporary, will be completed, and how many will be started, between now and the end of this year.
§ Mr. BevanI can give no forecast, as progress must depend on the labour available, and the supply of building materials and equipment, which, again, is a question of labour. At present some 900 temporary house sets are being delivered to places in the United Kingdom each week and from 300–350 houses are being completed weekly. As regards permanent houses, tenders have been approved for 2191 11,000 in England and Wales, but I am not able, at the present time, to say how many of them have actually started.
§ Sir T. MooreIn view of the high hopes that were raised by the right hon. Gentleman's Party before the Election, may we take it that the Minister is extremely dissatisfied with his reply?
§ Mr. BevanIf the hon. and gallant Member asks me whether I am satisfied, the answer, of course, is "I am not."
§ Sir T. MooreI said "dissatisfied."