§ 127. Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the expenditure involved by the administrative work connected with housing controls imposed by his Department and by local authorities on his behalf adds, in many cases, as much as 20 per cent. to the cost of houses being built at the present time; and whether steps will be taken at an early stage to simplify the procedure so that this cost can be materially reduced.
§ Mr. KeyNo, Sir, and I do not know on what information the hon. Member has based his calculations. Far from adding to the cost my right hon. Friend is satisfied that actions taken by his Department or by local authorities on his behalf have kept the cost of houses down. He is, of course, always ready to simplify procedure, if practicable, when it promotes efficiency.