§ Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Works if his attention has been called to the fact that in the Colchester district urgent repair work is being held up through inability to obtain any supplies of ceiling board; and what steps he is taking to remedy this shortage.
§ Mr. SandysI presume my hon. Friend refers to plaster-board and wall-board. Both these materials are in very short supply. The use of the limited quantities of wall-board has hitherto been confined to bomb damage repairs and other urgent work in London and the South-Eastern areas. However, the supply position is now slightly easier and arrangements are being made to release limited quantities over a wider area, including Colchester. Plaster-board is allocated regularly to Region 4, which includes Colchester. The quantity available for the Region being sub-divided between the various local authorities in proportion to their estimated needs.
§ Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Works if he will give instructions that, in those areas to which the £10 limit on repairs applies, the issue of licences shall not be so restricted as to throw out of work competent building operatives, who, for reasons of age or otherwise, are classified as non-mobile.
§ Mr. SandysLocal authorities have been instructed that, provided priority is given to the repair of bomb damaged houses, licences may be granted for various other classes of urgent work which should be more than sufficient to provide full employment for all non-mobile building trade operatives.