§ 43. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the fact that to build an average traditional three-bedroom house of 1,029 square feet required about 2,400 man hours to build in 1953, to give similar figures for 1939, 1945 and 1951.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Mr. Ernest Marples)The reports of the Girdwood Committee indicate that the number of man-hours required was 2,092 in 1939, 3,034 in 1947 and 2,630 in 1951. The earliest post-war year for which adequate data are available is 1947.
§ Sir W. SmithersWill not my hon. Friend impress on the workers in the building industry, and indeed in all other industries, that the economic survival of this country depends on their ability to achieve increased production more quickly and to help in the reduction of overhead charges?
§ Mr. MarplesNo doubt my hon. Friend will realise that the number of man-hours in 1953 was 20 per cent. less than in 1947 and 10 per cent. less than in 1951. While that improvement is good, I am certain that the House would agree that further improvement is both possible and desirable.