§ 144. Mr. Mitchisonasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the shortage of labour and materials for rural housing, he will offer assistance to rural district councils by the provision of permanent prefabricated houses or otherwise; and, if so, upon what terms.
§ Mr. Key:My right hon. Friend fully appreciates rural housing needs, and, as my hon. Friend suggests, one of the ways of assisting rural district councils to use the limited amount of labour and materials to the best advantage is to encourage them to supplement traditional building by means of permanent prefabricated systems of construction. Arrangements have already been made to supply rural district councils with 2,500 Swedish timber houses and these are now being erected in various parts of the country. 180W After reviewing all the systems at present available, my right hon. Friend has selected one, that designed by Sir Edwin Airey, as being most suitable for rural building on a large scale. Type plans have been prepared and my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Works, is arranging for the wall components to be manufactured and supplied to contractors at a specified price. Details of the scheme are contained in a circular which my right hon. Friend has just sent to local authorities and of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.