HC Deb 08 May 1950 vol 475 cc10-1
10. Mr. A. Edward Davies

asked the Minister of Works how much non-licensed work was performed on industrial premises and housing in 1949; and what checks are exercised to ensure that an undue proportion of building labour is not diverted from providing new housing accommodation.

Mr. Stokes

The amount of non-licensed work undertaken by the building and civil engineering industry in 1949 is very roughly estimated to have been about £200 million. Separate figures are not available for industrial premises and houses. In reply to the second part of the Question, the control over building work is operated so as to provide as far as possible for the requirements of housing, and there has, in fact, been some increase in the last year in the number of workers on house construction and not a diversion.

Mr. Davies

Is not there a danger that some of the labour goes on to this non-licensed work to the detriment of house-building? Is there any arrangement whereby the Minister's Department confers with local authorities to ensure that the authorities get all the labour they need?

Mr. Stokes

The figures show that the labour force on housing has been increased and not diminished. I assure my hon. Friend that there have been no complaints at all from local authorities to my Department on account of shortage of labour on housing.

Mr. McInnes

Can my right hon. Friend explain why, in answer to an earlier Question of mine, he said that there has been a decrease in labour employed on Scottish housing work, and, why in answer to this Question, he said that there had been an increase?

Mr. Stokes

Scotland is different. I have not got the figures in mind. If my hon. Friend puts down another Question, I will try to satisfy him.