§ 7. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the further growth in unemployment, he will now permit the banks to put loans to housebuilders in their priority lending list.
§ Mr. Maurice MacmillanI would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him on 24th November last.—[Vol. 807. c. 56.]
§ Mr. AllaunIs not the inability to obtain loans the main reason why 1,300 building firms have crashed in the last 12 months at a time of desperate housing need?
§ Mr. MacmillanThere are many factors which govern building starts, which began to pick up towards the end of last year. I would not like to attribute weight between them.
§ Mr. CrawshawIn view of the fact that the Government have cut down local authority building, is not the only possibility open to people the obtaining of housing through private builders? Will the hon. Gentleman try to ensure that private builders are allowed to remain in business?
§ Mr. MacmillanThere is no particular case for giving a higher priority to builders than to other people in similar difficulties.