§ 29. Mr. J. H. Hareasked the Minister of Health whether he will consider raising the figure of £1,200 which private individuals are now permitted to spend on the construction of a new house.
§ Mr. BevanThis, along with other relevant matters, will be considered in connection with the housing programme for 1947.
§ Mr. HareDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that, in view' of the very considerable rise in the cost of building materials during the last nine months, and in view of the fact that, as far as local authorities are concerned, he is prepared to raise his own ceiling figures, it is an injustice, and that something should be done as soon as possible to enable private builders to build?
§ Mr. BevanIn the case of houses for sale in 1946, private builders have already had a disproportionate share of the houses completed.
§ Mr. Derek Walker-SmithWill the right hon. Gentleman also bear in mind the possibility and desirability of reducing building costs by eliminating bad distribution of materials and returning, as far as possible, to the 1938 standards of output?
§ Mr. BevanI should like to have examples of bad distribution. I would remind hon. Members that distribution is now in the hands of private enterprise.