HC Deb 07 May 1963 vol 677 cc215-7
18. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will give further details of the proposed use of shipyards for the making of prefabricated dwellings, particularly their approximate cost, the time taken in their construction, the procedure for their allocation, and the number of types of dwellings.

Mr. Rippon

I can add nothing at present to what is said in the Report which I have published on the Produc- tion of Building Components in Shipyards, and to the replies I gave to Questions in the House on 30th April.

Mr. Sorensen

Is the Minister satisfied that the points in my Question are entirely covered by the statement to which he refers?

Mr. Rippon

I do not suppose that any Question is entirely covered by the previous statement of a Minister. I indicated in my Answer that the questions the hon. Gentleman is asking about cost, design and marketing are problems raised by the Report which will be dealt with initially at the three inquiry centres which I have set up.

Mr. C. Pannell

May we anticipate another statement from the Minister? Surely the right hon. Gentleman appreciates that it is not enough merely to have the Report of the architect; that we want to follow it up and see the practical application of marketing and the rest; and that we wish to know whether the Minister proposes to consider the question of the long-run which I mentioned last week, or possible subsidies in the early days?

Mr. Rippon

I am not disputing that. It was not a question of the architect's Report only. Quantity surveyors, a naval architect and others were concerned. I believe that we shall be able to judge the problems better when we get the shipyard owners, members of the building industry and representatives of local authorities together round the table to discuss the possibilities.

Dame Irene Ward

May I ask whether it is the intention of Departments such as the Ministries of Health and Education to guide organisations like the regional hospital boards in making inquiries about how these matters are progressing because that would be very helpful?

Mr. Rippon

That is certainly a possibility. In these matters I am in close touch with my right hon. Friends concerned with building.

Mr. Manuel

Regarding the present impetus for more prefabricated buildings, whether constructed in shipyards or anywhere else, is the Minister aware of the great importance of the need to control design to make certain that there will be no loss of architectural features and that we shall not have drabness and sameness about these houses which are to be produced quickly, because that would be criticised by many people?

Mr. Rippon

I have repeatedly emphasised the importance of design. That is why I believe that it is no use for industries to go ahead with prefabrication until they have discussed the matter with their clients and have heard their views about what is wanted.

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