HC Deb 06 December 1961 vol 650 cc1343-5
2. Mr. V. Yates

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the shortage of labour available for building municipal houses in Birmingham; and, in view of the housing authority's need for at least twice the present labour force of 2,300 men, if he will take steps to encourage more men into the building industry in Birmingham.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Alan Green)

There is no shortage of unskilled building labour in Birmingham, but the area is affected by the general shortage of building craftsmen. In the long term, the supply of skilled men depends on the industry's intake of apprentices, and we have urged building industry, along with others, to seize the opportunity of the "bulge" to step up its recruitment.

Mr. Yates

Is the Minister aware that for the past five years Birmingham has always had between 4,500 and 5,000 houses in the pipeline which could not be completed at much more than 2,000 a year, and so it will take more than twenty years even to touch the fringe of the housing problem? In view of the fact that a considerable number of these skilled craftsmen are being used in connection with the building of offices in huge blocks in the city of Birmingham and that the city is becoming a city of chain stores, will he consider with his right hon. Friends some system of priority to allow a greater number of houses to be built in Birmingham?

Mr. Green

My right hon. Friend, of course, cannot direct labour to any particular form of building. Without destroying the freedom of many people he cannot adopt the form of priority suggested by the hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Cleaver

Is the Minister aware that if the Socialist-controlled city council had not given planning permission for the redevelopment of the city there would not have been a shortage of labour? Is not this question a smokescreen to hide the failure of the Socialist-controlled city council?

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Ellis Smith.

Mr. Yates

If the plans to which the hon. Member for Birmingham, Yardley (Mr. Cleaver) is referring—

Hon. Members

Order.

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Ellis Smith, the next Question.