§ Sir R. Gowerasked the Minister of Health, in connection with house construction generally, the estimated percentage of labour costs and materials cost, respectively?
§ Mr. E. BrownBefore the war, the figures obtained from local authority direct labour schemes confirmed the general opinion that of the total cost of labour and materials in house construction, labour represented approximately 40 per cent. and materials 60 per cent. Sufficient data are not available on which to base an estimate of the present proportions. As stated by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister in reply to a Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Wing-Commander James) on 13th July last, the whole question of building costs is being examined by a newly established costing section of the Ministry of Works.