§ 18. Mr. Michael Shawasked the Minister of Public Building and Works what estimate he has formed of the capacity at which the system building side of the building industry is now working; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LoughlinFrom the information at my disposal, I cannot make such an estimate. At the present moment system building capacity is not fully used. My right hon. Friend is discussing with his colleagues means of improving the situation.
§ Mr. ShawDoes not the hon. Gentleman accept that system buildings are now running at about 25 per cent. of their capacity? This is a deplorable state of affairs. What are his right hon. Friends doing to improve the situation?
§ Mr. LoughlinI doubt very much whether the figure the hon. Gentleman gave was correct. I think that it is nearer 40 per cent. My Ministry has encouraged the use of industrialised buildings, and that is all we can do. We cannot compel people buying privately or local authorities to accept a particular type of building. I think that my Ministry has encouraged them as far as is possible.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkI think that the figure should be 28 per cent., so my hon. Friend is right in saying that the industry's capacity is not fully used.
§ Mr. LoughlinI am not sure that I would even accept the hon. Gentleman's 28 per cent.