§ 38. Mr. Skeffingtonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when it is ex- 221W pected that town plans for Aden will be ready; how long these plans have taken so far to prepare; whether he is aware that licences to build are being withheld on the grounds that plans must be decided upon first; and how many licences for building work have been granted in Aden within the last 18 months. to whom and for what kind of work.
Mr. Creech JonesI regret that I cannot yet indicate when the town plans for Aden will be complete. The Civic Adviser arrived in Aden in September, 1945, and work in connection with the preparation of the plans then began. The progress made seems to me to be unsatisfactory and steps have already been taken to speed up the matter. When building licences have to be withheld pending completion of the plans, every effort is made to find alternative sites for legitimate urgent needs. Of 37 licences given for new permanent buildings, three were for industrial purposes, ten for business purposes, and 24 for dwelling houses. Thirteen licences have been given for the reconstruction of dwelling houses, and 32 permits for new temporary buildings. including 28 for business purposes, and four for dwelling houses.