§ Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will arrange for the Construction Materials Group set up by the Economic Development Committee for Building and Civil Engineering to examine now the extent to which the importation of timber for use in the ground floors of buildings can be rendered unnecessary by insisting on the installation of solid floors wherever possible with suitable covering and, where desirable, under-floor insulation or heating.
§ Mr. MellishThe use of timber for suspended ground floors is confined almost entirely to housing: but in this field its employment is already inhibited 183W by higher costs. Over 80 per cent. of all housing is now constructed with solid ground floors. In these circumstances, I am reluctant to launch a special inquiry into the subject. I will, however, bring the hon. Member's suggestion to the attention of the Chairman of the Construction Materials Group, which is giving continuous consideration to the general problem of import saving.