§ 4. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Health if, in order to make the fullest use of manpower in the building trades, he will allow local authorities freedom to grant private enterprise building licences in cases where the work will be done by the prospective house-owner and his friends.
§ Mr. BevanLocal authorities may use one-fifth of their share of the national housing programme for licences for private persons.
§ Mr. HurdPutting aside prejudice in this matter, is there any good reason why a man with enterprise and skill should 1700 not be allowed to build a house for his family?
§ 5. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Health if he will amend Circular 108/48, giving local authorities instructions for the issue of private enterprise building licences, so that the one-in-five ratio may be observed for the general public, irrespective of the priority licences for agricultural workers.
§ Mr. BevanNo, Sir. The allocation made to a local authority, which comprises all the houses to be built by them or with their approval, is the maximum number of houses which it is estimated can be built with the resources available.
§ Mr. HurdDoes the Minister realise that this priority for farm workers' houses is meaningless if it is to come out of the one-in-five ratio?
§ Mr. BevanIf I did not give priority for farm workers' houses, and other people were allowed to build houses in the district, they would use up all the labour for those other houses and there would not be houses for the farm labourers.
§ Major Legge-BourkeDoes not the Minister realise that, whatever the purpose of this particular circular may be, the effect of it in several rural districts which I know has been that fewer licences have been given to private builders than before?