§ 9. Mr. Price-Whiteasked the Minister of Works why he has directed that completion, of roof repairs to war-damaged properties in the London area shall be with Portuguese slate where Welsh slate is not available; and if he will take steps to ensure that a sufficiency of Welsh slate is in future available for the completion of such repairs in place of Portuguese slate which has only an average expectation of three years' life.
§ Mr. TomlinsonI have given no such direction as the hon. Member suggests. Efforts are being made to secure as high a production of Welsh slates as possible.
§ Mr. Price-WhiteIs the Minister aware that in the Ministry of Health Direction No. 203 an indication was given of the availability of foreign slates to be obtained through the Ministry of Works, and is that compatible with the right hon. Gentleman's answer?
§ Mr. TomlinsonYes, Sir. That is not in any sense a direction. As everybody 1192 knows, there is a shortage of Welsh slates and we have arranged for the importation of some foreign slates in order to meet the difficulty. That is what was pointed out by the Ministry of Health.