HC Deb 10 May 1948 vol 450 cc1707-8
3. Mr. Marples

asked the Minister of Works what is the average cost of permanent houses built by his department's labour squad in respect of houses erected during the six months ended 30th September, 1947, and for the six months ended 31st March, 1948.

Mr. Key

The average cost of the new permanent houses completed by the mobile labour force during the periods referred to was £1,668 and £1,777, respectively. The figures exclude the cost of roads, sewers and other external services. These houses were built to meet the requirements of other Departments, mainly in isolated areas where local labour was inadequate.

Mr. Marples

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that all the houses were built in isolated areas? In view of the fact that a private builder is allowed only £1,300 to build a house, how can he justify his Department spending so much in building?

Mr. Key

I want to make it clear that the mobile labour force is used in isolated areas where we find it difficult or impossible to get private industry to take on the job. This involves a good deal of transport, special terms so far as the guaranteeed week is concerned, London rates wherever the job may be, and favourable annual and public-holiday arrangements. In the first period referred to, these items involved £324 per house, and in the second period £375 per house. It will be apparent, therefore, that there is very little difference between the price to which the hon Member has referred to regard to construction by private industry.

Mr. Gammans

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that in every case before the job was given to the mobile squad private enterprise builders were invited to tender and refused to do so?

Mr. Key

No, Sir, not in every case.

Mr. Marples

How does the Minister reconcile that answer with the one he gave on 26th April, which showed that the average price of building houses by the squad was estimated at £2,500?

Mr. Key

That was a specific case of a particular type of house.

4. Mr. Marples

asked the Minister of Works the average cost of erection only of temporary prefabricated houses when erected by the mobile labour squad under the supervision of his Department and when erected by private contractors, respectively.

Mr. Key

There is only one case where the mobile labour force has been employed on erection only and it is, therefore, not possible to make a fair comparison with the average cost of erection by private contractors.

Mr. Marples

How does the Minister reconcile that answer with the one he gave on 26th April when he stated that the price of 343 prefabricated houses, built by his squad at a cost of £397,070, did not include the cost of prefabricated components?

Mr. Key

I am asked in this case to deal with the subject of erection only. In the other cases there was a good deal of site and slab preparation, and so on.

Mr. Marples

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the House comparative figures to show what his Department are spending and what private enterprise are charging?

Mr. Key

As I have said, I have only one case where erection only has been done by the mobile labour force. While in that case it was done at a figure which was less than the cost in a considerable number of other cases of erection only by private enterprise, yet I do not think it would be fair to put that one instance in comparison with the general situation.