§ 98. Mr. Lipsonasked the Minister of Works if he will give an assurance that in future the inspection of temporary houses by his Department and the handing over of the keys shall take place within 24 hours of their erection on the site, so that the delay in doing this, which recently held up their occupation at Cheltenham, may not occur elsewhere.
§ Mr. WilsonI understand that the hon. Member has in mind the aluminium temporary house. I could not give the assurance for which he asks, since, after erection, the drains and services have to be connected and there is often further work to be done on paths and fences.
§ Mr. LipsonIs the Government aware that my Question refers purely to the inspection and the handing over of keys? Is it fair that people who are in desperate need of houses should see rows of houses fit for occupation, which they cannot enter because the Ministry has not provided a key?
§ Mr. WilsonIf the hon. Member is referring to some houses at Cheltenham, I am informed that they were aluminium houses, and that the delay resulted from residual work after erection, which was undertaken at the order of the local authority, not the Ministry of Works.