HC Deb 20 January 1949 vol 460 c312
14. Sir Waldron Smithers

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a census of Britain's houses on the lines of the 1931 Census, to give a clear picture of the nature and conditions of the nation's dwellings.

Mr. Bevan

One of the objects of the next Census will be to obtain additional data concerning the housing of the people.

Sir W. Smithers

If the Minister knew more about his job, would he not be aware that his present policy is preventing building of the maximum number of houses and that if he only restored free enterprise to builders of £1,300 houses he would get double the number of houses built?

Mr. Bevan

It would of course be possible, by permitting people to build houses where they liked, to build more houses for some people who could afford to pay, at the expense of those who could not.

Sir W. Smithers

That is most unfair. I said £1,300 houses.

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