§ 8. Mrs. Middletonasked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what quota of steel was allocated to his Department for use in reconstruction areas of bombed cities during 1949; and the names of the cities to which an allocation is being made, together with the amount allocated in each case.
§ Mr. SilkinThe total amount of steel allocated to the reconstruction of blitzed cities in 1949 is 5,540 tons. This takes no account of any steel which may be allocated to industrial, residential, or other projects sponsored by other Departments, and in some of the blitzed towns the available building resources are almost wholly engaged on such other projects. The total steel within my control has been divided among various blitzed 1486 towns on the basis of their requirements, as notified to me by the local authorities; and in making the division I have had particular regard to the question whether projects are ready to start and labour is likely to be available. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT the detailed figures for which my hon. Friend asks.
§ Mrs. MiddletonWill my right hon. Friend assure the House that he will do all within his power to get the allocation of steel for reconstruction areas increased at the earliest possible moment?
§ Mr. SilkinI should like to see how local authorities get on with what they have got before I ask for more.
§ Following are the figures:
| Tons | |
| Bristol | 390 |
| Coventry | 750 |
| Exeter | 450 |
| Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Norwich | 500 |
| Kingston-upon-Hull | 450 |
| Manchester | 200 |
| Plymouth | 750 |
| Portsmouth | 750 |
| Sheffield | 400 |
| Southampton | 270 |
| South Shields | 180 |
| Swansea | 75 |
§ Note.—Steel is being provided for the City of London under a separate arrangement.