§ 11. Mr. Spenceasked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what principle allocations of materials are made to local authorities for the completion of houses under construction; and which materials, in particular, are in short supply.
§ Mr. WestwoodLicences are issued by my Department for timber, steel and cast iron, in quantities calculated according to the number of houses which the particular authority is expected to be able to complete in 1947, and to the stage of progress which these houses have already reached. Other materials are acquired by contractors on priority certificates issued by the local authorities themselves. The materials in particularly short supply are timber, steel and cast iron, lead, certain types of electrical components, salt glazed pipes, and slates. I would refer the hon. Member to the detailed explanation of the supply position given in paragraphs 12 to 15 of the recent White Paper.
§ Mr. SpenceIs the Minister aware that his answer shows that the allocation of houses is being made on a point of expediency, to show the maximum number of completed houses in the shortest space of time, disregarding local needs; and is he aware that this is causing very great resentment? With regard to the second part of the answer, was all the timber for these houses ever ordered; if it was ordered, which country let us down; and if it was not ordered, who was the guilty man?
§ Mr. WestwoodI cannot answer all those questions without notice.
§ Mr. Thornton-KemsleyWould the right hon. Gentleman answer this one? Does he remember that on 26th November the Joint Under-Secretary of State said that the whole of the Swedish houses in Aberdeen County would be completed by 31st December last year; is he aware that the whole of those houses are completed now, except for taps which have 1056 been on order for four months; and can he say when those taps will be forthcoming?
§ Mr. WestwoodI cannot. All I can say is that they are on tap.