§ 3. Mr. John Lewisasked the Minister of Health if he will make provision for stocks of building materials held by local authorities to be utilised not only for property owned by the municipality, but also for repairs to all dwellings where the health committee concerned is of the opinion that it is essential that repairs be carried out, and issue licences according.
§ Mr. BevanArrangements are already in force to facilitate the release of materials for repairs which are either required by statutory notices or are certified by the local authority as being eligible for priority. These facilities apply equally to privately-owned houses and to those owned by local authorities.
§ Mr. LewisIs the right hon. Gentleman saying that, in the event of a private house not occupied by the corporation being in an insanitary condition, the local authority will allow its own materials to be used by private builders for the repairs?
§ Mr. BevanI am saying that if the local authority has issued a certificate for work to be done on a private house on the ground that the work is needed, it will, at the same time, give the same priority to that work as to its own schemes.