HC Deb 05 March 1946 vol 420 cc155-6
7. Mr. Keeling

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that, although plans for temporary bungalows were submitted by the borough of Twickenham on 22nd August and his officers subsequently visited the site twice to inspect the progress of' the foundations and 50 times to check the work of prisoners of war, his Department did not discover until28th January that they had never received or had mislaid the plans, with the result that they did not invite tenders for erection until February; and if he will arrange for co-operation between his clerks and his outside officers so that a waste of five months may be avoided in future, or leave local authorities to make their own arrangements for erecting bungalows.

Mr. Tomlinson

The necessary plans for the temporary houses for the Hanworth Road site, Hounslow Heath, were first submitted to my Department on 31st January, 1946. The borough of Twickenham started slab foundations for the houses in November using prisoner of war labour, and in January when this work had reached the stage for arranging a contract for the erection of the houses with civilian labour the Borough Council were reminded that plans had not been submitted. The fact that the plans were not received until 31st January has not delayed progress with work on the site since those which it is alleged were submitted in August would not be applicable to the type of house which is now to be erected on the site.

Mr. Keeling

Will the Minister reply to the latter part of the Question?

Mr. Tomlinson

Yes, Sir. I will look into that. There is an arrangement whereby local authorities can do the work.

Mr. Keeling

What about the last 10 words? Cannot local authorities be allowed to make their own arrangements?

Mr. Tomlinson

As I stated, many local authorities are erecting their own bungalows by arrangement with the Ministry.

Sir Waldon Smithers

Is this not an inevitable waste of time and money under State control?