HC Deb 05 December 1949 vol 470 cc1509-10
16. Mr. Marples

asked the Minister of Works how many persons have made inquiries for licences for building offices and have been told that a licence would only be granted if all the accommodation was let on lease to his Department.

Mr. Key

None, so far as I am aware.

Mr. Marples

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that if building licences are used as a weapon to ensure that the Government get all the accommodation at the expense of the rest of the community, it is a gross breach of the Executive's power.

Mr. Key

If they were so used, it would be, but they are not so used.

Mr. Marples

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that three gentlemen, of whom I was one, visited the Ministry of Works, where we were informed by one of his officials that under no circumstances would we be granted licences unless the total office accommodation was allotted to the Ministry of Works?

Mr. Key

I am not aware of that, and if it was said the person concerned had no authority to say it. He had nothing whatever to do with the licensing section of the Department. He was in the lands and accommodation section of the Department.

18. Mr. Spearman

asked the Minister of Works the total value of licences granted to private contractors for the purpose of building Government offices.

Mr. Key

The value of the licences granted was £7,576,000. This was for 30 lessor building schemes.

Mr. Marples

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the total value of the licences granted to private contractors for the building of offices other than for Government purposes?

Mr. Key

No, Sir, not without notice.

Colonel Dower

In the licences granted for Government work, were the same stringent restrictions in operation about the securing, use and control of materials as have always been insisted on in other licences?

Mr. Key

Certainly, and before the licences were granted inquiries were made as to the availability of the materials necessary.