§ Dame Irene Wardasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will arrange for the co-operation of his Department in the placing of orders in shipyards where there is production of building components.
§ Sir K. JosephMy Department will be co-operating with local authorities in the organisation of their enlarged house-building programmes, and to that extent will be helping to create an increased demand for building components and products. Local authorities or groups of authorities will be encouraged to adopt standard building components and, where suitable, to consider the use of industrialised building systems. General advice will also be given on the availability of systems. But I must stress that the choice of building method or of contractor lies with the local authority as client; and that local authority groups who engage in bulk purchase of components will themselves decide from whom to buy. Shipyards intending to produce building components should therefore make full use of the Enquiry Centres set up by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works: by this means they will be able to make contact with the local authorities and contractors who will provide the market for their products. My Department will, of course, also be in touch with the Enquiry Centres.