HC Deb 11 March 1952 vol 497 cc1234-5
4. Mrs. E. M. Braddock

asked the Minister of Works how many tradesmen are working on Lewis's extension in Liverpool; when permission was given by his Department to move quantities of steel, allowed for building in Manchester by the same firm, to be used on the Liverpool site; and why this firm have not been included in the building standstill order.

Mr. Eccles

The work on Lewis's at Liverpool is not an extension but a reconstruction of a war-damaged building. On 29th February, 64 building trades craftsmen were employed on the site. The use of steel from Lewis's unfinished prewar building at Manchester was authorised in April, 1949. The deferment of starting dates does not apply to work in progress.

Mrs. Braddock

Is the Minister aware that it is very difficult to convince people that there is a shortage of steel when one looks at the progress of Lewis's in Liverpool? Is he also aware that the steel which is being used has been transferred from a similar project in Manchester which seems to have been abandoned? Is it right what people in Liverpool are saying, that if one happens to be Chairman of the Conservative Party one has no difficulty in obtaining steel?

Mr. Eccles

The transfer of the steel was authorised by the late Government. I assume that, like some of her hon. Friends, the hon. Lady is "having a go" at her own Front Bench.

Mrs. Braddock

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there was supposed to be a standstill order—[HON. MEMBERS: "Only on new building."]—and that it does not seem to have applied to this firm? Following the decision to suspend work on schemes, even though permission for the work had been given by the previous Government, is it not the case that very many such projects were stopped and that practically the only one in Liverpool which has not been stopped is the one where the managing director is Chairman of the Conservative Party?

Mr. Eccles

The hon. Lady is quite wrong. The standstill order did not apply to work in progress. It would have been very uneconomical to stop work on buildings which were already going up.