§ Major Beamishasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what further plans are being considered to export prefabricated houses to the Dominions and Colonies; whether it is his policy to encourage such exports; and with which Dominions and Colonies he has had consultations in this connection; (2), to what countries outside the Commonwealth have prefabricated houses, shown by types, 31W been exported since VE-day; in what numbers; and what prices were paid; (3), how many prefabricated houses, shown by types, have been exported to the Dominions and Colonies since VE-day, showing each Dominion or Colony separately; and what prices were paid.
§ Mr. H. WilsonIt is the policy of the Government to encourage the export of prefabricated houses to the maximum possible extent, having regard for the supply of materials. There have been no official export negotiations between His Majesty's Government and overseas Governments; negotiations have been of the ordinary commercial kind between the suppliers of different types of prefabricated houses and potential purchasers abroad, whether the latter are private, municipal or central goverment purchasers. There are no official statistics of exports of houses as such. The figures of exports would come under the respective headings of the components as shown in the official Export List. In these circumstances, and as sales are the result of private trade, prices secured are not available for publication.
I gather that actual bulk transactions have so far not been numerous. In a considerable number of instances, however, negotiations with both Empire and foreign purchasers have reached the stage of the supply and erection of sample houses. The indications are that the export business which may accrue will vary from the export of complete houses in parts at one end of the range, to the sale of manufacturing rights and designs at the other.