HC Deb 28 November 1950 vol 481 cc934-5
34. Mr. William Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an assurance that the necessary basic materials are available to support the local authority housing allocations; and if he can estimate the extent to which shortage of bricks and cement in 1950 have delayed the completion of houses in Scotland.

Mr. T. Fraser

We are doing all we can to ensure that materials are available as required. As regards the second part of the Question, I am afraid it is impossible to give any such estimate.

Mr. Ross

Is my hon. Friend aware that at a special meeting of Edinburgh Town Council last week to consider housing, the statement was made that there was a daily deficiency on three sites of about 6,000 bricks and a weekly deficiency of about 4 tons of cement, and will my hon. Friend comment on this state of affairs?

Mr. Fraser

I am not able to comment on the statements to which my hon. Friend refers. It is true that for a period this year there was a real shortage of those two materials and also of timber, but the House will have appreciated, as a result of a discussion we had the other week, that the figures of recent completions in Scotland are rather in excess of anticipations earlier in the year, despite the difficulties with materials some months ago.

Mr. Ross

Will the Minister look into this question of the present shortage rather than something which happened a few weeks ago?

Mr. Fraser

Yes. Sir; I will.

Captain Duncan

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the shortage of bricks is not confined to Edinburgh?

Mr. Fraser indicated assent.