§ Mr. J. Beattieasked the Minister of Production why, in the negotiations with the Northern Ireland Government regarding the allocation of necessary building materials, he stipulated that only 750 houses must be built there since, approximately, 20,000 houses are required in Northern Ireland and whether he will accord to Northern Ireland equal treatment with Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom where many houses have been built and are in course of erection?
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§ Mr. LytteltonThe limiting factor in this case is supplies of steel and timber, and 750 houses is the top limit for which I am at present able to authorise release of these materials. When steel and timber can be diverted from essential war requirements to housing, further claims will, of course, be sympathetically considered. As regards the second part of the Question, I am not to be taken as agreeing that this decision involves less favourable treatment for Northern Ireland than for the rest of the United Kingdom.