HC Deb 27 March 1950 vol 473 cc8-9W
87. Mr. Baird

asked the Minister of Works on what grounds a permit was granted for the building of an ice-cream factory at Westbury Street, Wolverhampton.

Mr. Stokes

My hon. Friend is, no doubt, referring to a low temperature room which is being erected at a dairy in Westbury Street, Wolverhampton. This work was started in the expectation that it would be done under the £1,000 per annum free limit. Owing to the reduction of the free limit to £500 a licence was required for the balance of the work and has been issued in accordance with the usual practice in such cases.

89. Mr. Hay

asked the Minister of Works why the authorisation limit under paragraph (1) of Regulation 56A of the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939, has been reduced from £1,000 to £500; and whether he is aware that this reduction is likely to cause considerable dislocation in the programme of maintenance work to be carried out by local authorities and statutory water undertakings.

Mr. Stokes

The reduction of this limit is one of the measures taken to bring more building work under control with the object of reducing capital investment in accordance with the Government's decision announced last October. Maintenance work by local authorities and statutory water undertakers is not affected since it is not in any case subject to authorisation.