§ 44. Lieut.-Colonel Marcus Liptonasked the Minister of Works what is the value of licences granted for Government offices in London and the provinces now in course of erection; and how many of them have been withdrawn since 1st November last.
§ Mr. EcclesThe value of licences granted for offices now in course of erection in London and the provinces which are to be let to the Government is £4,016,000 and £1,622,000 respectively. No licence has been withdrawn since 1st November.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonDoes that answer mean that the Minister is going to continue with this fantastic expenditure on the provision of Government buildings? Is he not going to cut it down with a view to speeding the day when the 300,000 houses will be available?
§ Mr. EcclesAll these buildings were started under the late Government and it would be uneconomic not to complete them. As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has said, new starts are now being postponed.