§ Major Owenasked the First Commissioner of Works whether, in view of the fact that housing schemes and normal building construction are being held up in order to give precedence to buildings for rearmament purposes, and that as a result there is growing depression in the slate industry, he will give instructions for the inclusion of slates in all specifications relating to such buildings?
§ Captain A. HudsonI have been asked to reply. The roofing of all buildings in munition factories is governed by special safety considerations, and the use of slates for the roofing of such buildings is not practicable. They are, however, used in suitable cases, such as housing estates in connection with armament works, in districts where slate is readily available.