§ Mr. S. Marshallasked the Minister of Works if he is aware that the methods adopted for electrical wiring in prefabricated houses involve almost a monopoly on the part of a few firms supplying the harnesses and accessories, and that the electrical contracting industry is being called upon to provide only the site labour, which is almost negligible; and in view of the limited amount of electrical work available, if he will follow the orthodox methods of house wiring, which compare favourably in cost and quality and would provide employment over a large area.
§ Mr. TomlinsonThe contracts for the supply of harness and accessories for the temporary prefabricated houses are placed with a range of manufacturers and do not involve any monopoly. The method adopted for the temporary houses was designed to make the maximum use of factory labour and to leave the labour available for site work as free as possible for other new building, especially the permanent house programme.