§ Major PRESCOTTasked the Minister of Health why the Director of Production recently resigned office; whether expert advice on questions of economy is constantly flouted; to what extent the Ministry is committed to encouraging the guild system scheme; and if he is prepared to institute a searching inquiry into the present house-building muddle which is undermining the basis upon which the building industry of this country has hitherto prospered?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe Director of Production resigned because he disagreed with the Building Guild Contract. Expert advice on questions of economy has always been welcomed and encouraged in every way. On account of the fact that prices were too high under the various forms of contract with private builders in certain places, I agreed as an experiment to the carrying out by building guilds of 20 schemes involving in all about 1 per cent. of the number of approved tenders. This decision was based on expert advice, and I had no alternative except to test the claim put forward that prices would be brought down and output increased by building on a co-operative basis. As regards the last part of the question I am not aware of any foundation for the assertion made and see no present ground 967W for an inquiry other than the inquiry into building costs which I have already set on foot.
§ Mr. W. SMITHasked the Minister of Health whether the Building Guild has completed houses in Manchester at a cost of £740, while a similar type of house being built for the council by contractors cost £1,000; whether this price enables the guild to ensure its members continuous pay during wet weather; whether the guild has any difficulty in securing labour; and whether a saving to the taxpayer of at least £6,675,000 would have been effected if the 13,350 houses already completed under assisted schemes had been built by guild labour?
§ Dr. ADDISONSo far as I am aware, no houses have been completed by the Building Guild in Manchester. The contract for the erection of houses by them for the Manchester Council has only recently commenced, and there is therefore no information available as to final cost. The guild do not appear to be experiencing any difficulty in securing labour at present.