§ LORD CALVERLEYMy Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government the question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether it is possible to make use of approximately three thousand timber houses now on offer from the Ministry of Commerce of the Austrian Government; whether they are aware that some of these are of the two-story chalet type and come within the cost of the same type of house under construction in this country; and whether these timber houses could be made available to public authorities and suitable priorities given to import the houses from Austria.]
§ LORD HENDERSONMy Lords, no Austrian timber houses have been offered to this country since last year. The investigation of costs then made showed that the cost of the houses would be approximately £500 more than a brick house of similar size and the offer was not accepted. If the noble Lord will give me details of the houses to which he is referring I will make further inquiries.
§ LORD CALVERLEYI should be only too glad to do so. I would like to ask my noble friend whether he is aware that a certain number of houses are now on firm offer and if we do not accept them they are going to the Argentine.
§ LORD HENDERSONI have no knowledge of the offer to which my noble friend has referred, but, as I say, if he will give me full details I will have the matter looked into.