HC Deb 07 July 1953 vol 517 cc1050-1
54. Mr. Short

asked the Minister of Works what steps he proposes to take to make more material and labour available for school building.

The Minister of Works (Sir David Eccles)

My responsibility is to keep the Government informed of the probable supplies of building materials and to do what I can to encourage further expansion of output. At the present time materials are adequate for the school building programme, and the general supply of all materials is expanding.

Mr. Short

Does not the recent Report of the Select Committee reveal that the supply devoted to school building is inadequate, and does the Minister not agree that, if we are to remove these blots from our educational system, a considerably bigger share of our resources of manpower and materials will have to be devoted to this purpose?

Sir D. Eccles

I am only concerned with the programme as it is, and I have had no complaints that there are shortages of materials for the programme.