§ 15. Colonel Stoddart-Scottasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that at the end of October his Northern Regional Area Office refused to grant timber licences until the middle of December for work that had already been licensed, in spite of the fact that timber yards in this area are fuller than they have been since 1938; and why he authorised this hold-up in building conversion and repair of houses.
§ Mr. BevanAs to the restrictions on the use of timber, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given by the Minister of Economic Affairs to the hon. and gallant Member for East Grinstead (Colonel Clarke) on 6th November, of which I am sending him a copy. Sufficient timber is being provided to maintain progress on urgent housing work.
§ Colonel Stoddart-ScottIs the Minister not aware that in the timber yards of the North Region there is more timber than there has ever been in peace or war; is he further aware that the regional office has now cut all applications for timber to half of what was promised in the middle of December, which will mean that much housing, conversion and repairing of buildings will now stop?
§ Mr. BevanI cannot admit that much housing is being stopped. The stocks of timber are, of course, higher; but they are always higher at this time of the year. The stocks of timber will be run down in the course of the winter as houses need timber. I need hardly say that I do not myself regard it as a good practice to 1167 have idle timber and idle houses, and I have given instructions for timber licences to be issued where they are needed for new houses.