§ 10 and 11. Squadron-Lcader Donnerasked the Minister of Health (1) whether his attention has beendrawn to the application of a firm of builders and contractors to the Kingsclere and Whitchurch Rural District Council for W.B.A. priority on certain private enterprise housing which they are executing; that this firm have been informed that the rural district council are willing and anxious to grant this priority, but are unable to do so, as the requisite forms have not been made available by his Department; and what steps he proposes to take to expedite the matter;
(2) whether he is aware that his Department have failed to supply the requisite priority permits affecting the building of houses to the Kingsclere and 1279 Whitchurch Rural District Council; why permission to type such priority permits by the rural district council has been refused; and whether he will now take measures to permit local authorities to act in the absence of printed forms.
§ Mr. BevanA supply of the necessary forms was sent to this local authority on 7th February, 1946, in response to a request received on 6th February. A further supply was sent as part of a general distribution on 18th February. These forms can always be obtained on application to my principal housing officers so that the question of allowing local authorities to produce their own does not arise. The same form is used for granting priority both to local authority and private building.
§ Squadron-Leader DonnerIs the. Minister aware that considerable delay occurs before these forms arrive, and does he not realise that until the builders are given a chance we shall not get any houses?