§ 44. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Health if, in view of the growing lack of work for many small building firms, he will now allow local authorities to issue further licences for private enterprise building.
§ Mr. BevanI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) on 18th March.
§ Mr. HurdHow far does the Minister want the building industry to disband its resources before he will allow local authorities more discretion in this matter?
§ Mr. BevanLocal authorities have already received, in the last few months, a very large number of additional approvals. There is no question of the building industry being dispersed. In fact, there are far too many building firms in existence for economic operation.
§ Mr. J. H. HareCould the Minister say whether or not he would allow great latitude for the reconditioning of houses for rural workers in the country areas?
§ Mr. BevanCirculars have been sent out to authorities generally relaxing the conditions and rules relating to repairs, but it would be undesirable to do that in the rural areas if it were done at the expense of new accommodation.
§ Mr. GrimstonReferring to the reply of the Minister to the last supplementary question but one, are we to take it that it is the policy to drive the small firms out of business?
§ Mr. BevanNo. If the hon. Member would acquaint himself with the facts he would realise that we have made special arrangements for small firms to build houses for sale to the local authorities, where they are too small to be able to place tenders in the ordinary way. It is a fact that the building industry is in many respects grossly inefficient because there are too many firms.