§ Mr. Ross Taylorasked the Minister of Health if he will give a list of the local authorities throughout the country which have applied for factory-made temporary houses, showing the numbers asked for by each.
§ Mr. WillinkAs the list is a long one, I will send my hon. Friend a copy.
§ Mr. Ross Taylorasked the Minister of Health what is the latest estimate of the number of factory-made temporary houses which will be erected in the next two years; and how many will eventually have to be erected to meet requirements in full.
§ Mr. SandysI have been asked to reply. The number of houses which can be built during the next two years will largely depend upon how soon and to what extent factory capacity and labour can be released at the end of the war in Europe. Until, therefore, the military situation is clarified, it will not be possible to make even approximate production forecasts for this period. The purpose of the temporary housing programme is to augment to the fullest possible extent the number of houses of all types which can be provided between now and the time when permanent house building can be restarted on a large scale. Since the length of the period during which it will be necessary to build temporary houses is uncertain, no precise figure of total requirements can be given.