HC Deb 27 November 1951 vol 494 cc1105-6
34. Mr. Alport

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the reasons for the decline in the completion rate of house building during the third quarter of 1951.

Mr. H. Macmillan

The numbers for each of the first three quarters of that year in England and Wales were 58,697, 42,579 and 42,523 respectiely. The main decline was in the first quarter of the year.

Mr. Alport

Can my right hon. Friend estimate the number of houses which would have been completed in the full year 1951 had the average rate of building continued throughout the year as it was during the first three quarters?

Mr. Macmillan

I could, if I multiplied it out.

Mr. C. W. Gibson

Would not the housing position improve if the building contractors of this country would adopt more fully the agreement between them and the unions in the industry providing for an effective bonus system?

Mr. Macmillan

Although that is a valuable suggestion it is a little out of the range of this Question.