HC Deb 01 December 1947 vol 445 c6
8. Mr. Braddock

asked the Minister of Works when the contract price for supplying, apart from erection, the various types of prefabricated houses, including the aluminium house, was agreed with the promoters of each type; what was in each case the cost agreed; and will he undertake to have a costing investigation made by accountants in each case and publish to the House the result of these investigations.

Mr. Key

As regards the first two parts of the Question, I propose to include the information in the forthcoming White Paper on the temporary housing programme. As regards the last part of the Question, as a rule competitive tenders were obtained, and when this was not possible fixed basic prices were negotiated after a cost investigation. I therefore do not consider that any further cost investigations are necessary.

Mr. Braddock

Does the Minister consider that the prices indicated in the recent statement are justified by the costs of the labour and materials involved?

Mr. Key

Yes, Sir. So far as my investigations go, I say, "Yes."