HC Deb 17 November 1949 vol 469 cc2188-90
47. Sir Waldron Smithers

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will state in quantity surveyors' terms the amount of material that has already been used and will he used in erecting the exhibition site on the south side of the Thames.

Mr. H. Morrison

I presume that when the hon. Member refers to "erecting the exhibition site" he means preparing the site for the exhibition and erecting the exhibition buildings on it. With permission I will circulate this information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Sir W. Smithers

While I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that information may I ask him to state, from the information which he is going to circulate, how many houses could be built with that material? I ask that question in view of the fact that 2,300 people are waiting for houses in Orpington. In the opinion of the Government, is it more important to have houses for people or to have fun fairs for Socialists?

Mr. Morrison

I do not think the Question has any relationship whatsoever to the so-called fun fair. Secondly, the hon. Member did not mention houses in his Question. Thirdly, in view of his expert knowledge, he will no doubt be able to work out from the detailed information I shall give him how many houses would be produced. Personally, I am not clever enough but I am sure he is.

Sir W. Smithers

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. Do you not think that the biggest fun fair is on the Front Bench opposite?

Following is the information:

The amount of material used to date in preparing the South Bank exhibition site for the Festival of Britain, 1951, and erecting the exhibition buildings on it is:

This excludes the river wall and concert hall which are the responsibility of the London County Council.

It is not possible at this stage to estimate in detail what the final require- ments will be, but they are not expected to exceed:

plus attendant quantities of materials such as plaster-board, paint, glass and sanitary fittings.

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