§ Mr. Mainwaringasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works if he is aware of the position in Rhondda with regard to house repairs; and if he will have an investigation made into the available supply of labour and materials with a view of adding to them if necessary.
§ Mr. HicksI am not aware that there is any special problem over the supply of labour and materials for house repairs in Rhondda. If the hon. Member will send me particulars of any special difficulty he has in mind I shall be glad to look into it.
§ Mr. Mainwaringasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works whether, in order to concentrate the available supply of labour and materials upon gravely needed house repairs, he will consider preventing builders from undertaking costly alterations and renovations to business premises.
§ Mr. HicksYes, Sir; this entirely accords with my Noble Friend's policy. If my hon. Friend has any particular cases in mind, I shall be glad to look into them.
§ Sir R. Gowerasked the Minister of Health whether the whole of the building trade in London is now pooled under the local authorities who alone have the right to effect repairs unless of a trivial character; what hours are worked by each such local authority; whether the rates of pay in the different districts are the same; and whether this enforced pooling arrangement has any fixed or estimated duration.
§ Mr. WillinkThe Government's intention is to concentrate for the time being as much as possible of the building labour in London to work under or on behalf of the local authorities on the repair of war damage to houses, and an Order has been made prohibiting private work costing more than £10 without a licence. The hours of work are laid down in an instruction, a copy of which I am sending my hon. Friend. The rates of pay follow the terms laid down in the trade agree802W ments, which entail some variations in outlying districts. The duration of the arrangements depends on the progress achieved with war damage repairs.