§ 43. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that 50 B.I.S.F. houses and 12 type UT2 houses built by the Wisbech Corporation between January and December, 1948, contained no cooking appliances but only either gas or electric points or both; 545 that 12 more type UT houses, eight Airey houses and 38 type D1 or D2 now under construction also have no such appliances but points only; and why he approved these plans in view of his policy of not approving local authority plans unless provision is made for cooking.
§ Mr. BevanThe tenants of the B.I.S.F. and UT2 houses built in 1948 made their own arrangements with the electricity and gas authorities. I have no objection to this; it is a matter for local decision. Cooking ranges are provided in Airey houses and the Council are taking steps to ensure that cookers are available to the tenants of the other houses under construction and are at present considering the terms on which they shall be provided.
§ Major Legge-BourkeDoes the right hon. Gentleman not recall that on 27th January, when I asked him how many local authorities had let houses since the war which contained neither solid fuel, nor electric or gas cooking appliances, he replied that he would not approve local authority plans unless provision was made for cooking? How does he align the two answers?
§ Mr. BevanProvision is made for the local authority itself to do that or for the tenants to make arrangements with those providing the houses. Arrangements are made either privately or officially.