ADDITIONAL MARRIED QUARTERS (Hansard, 18 March 1952)

§ Mr. Emrys Hughes

I should like the Under-Secretary of State for Air to explain why there has been such slow progress with the provision of married quarters. I remember that we spent very considerable time one day listening to the promises, which were held out to married airmen, of housing accommodation which was to be supplied to them. I should like to know why these promises appear to be unfulfilled. What is the reason the married quarters have not been built? Is it a shortage of labour or materials? How has this promise been redeemed?

I would suggest that one of the reasons is that there is a shortage of building trade labour because of the call-up of the building trade workers into the Forces by the Ministry of Labour. I do not know into which sections of the Armed Forces the building trade workers have gone, but surely it is a waste of labour if building trade workers are called up for the Forces and the houses which have been promised are not then available. I have always argued that building trade workers should not be called up when they are needed for building either married quarters for airmen or married quarters for soldiers or for miners.

I should like to know what the Government will do to get this housing accommodation which is so badly needed and if the promises made about a year ago are likely to be fulfilled.