§ 38. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Health if he has considered a letter, dated 29th May, sent to him by the borough of Beckenham; and, in view of the urgent necessity for housing accommodation in that area, if he will accede to their request and revoke the suspension to issue licences for the erection of new houses by private enterprise.
§ Mr. BevanI have considered the letter There is no reason why building contractors in Beckenham should not be fully employed under such arrangements as are suggested in Circular 92/46 in the building of houses for the local authority.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs the Minister aware that local authorities are hampered by continual instructions from his Ministry, and that if he wants to get houses he must stop this flow of his political venom?
§ Mr. BevanThe hon. Member evidently does not realise that the purpose of the circular, which was issued last year and under which large numbers of houses are now being built by small builders for local authorities, was to get small builders out of their difficulties and not to obstruct them. If they were obstructed, it is because of the activities of the local authority the hon. Member represents.