HC Deb 02 April 1946 vol 421 cc161-2W
101. Mr. Marples

asked the Minister of Works for an analysis of the causes of the present high costs of building; and if he will analyse them so that a comparison can be made as to the relative increases which have taken place as regards the costs of labour, materials and finance.

Mr. Tomlinson:

The causes of the present high cost of building as compared with prewar are in the main the increases in the prices of materials and components, the improvements in rates of wages and conditions, and the reduction in the rate of output due to the dislocation resulting from the war. The relative weight of these factors varies according to the type and locality of building and cannot be expressed in firm figures.