asked the Minister of Works why the Control of Building Materials (No. 1) Order, makes it necessary to obtain a W.B.A. priority licence not only for house-building and other building work inside the U.K., but also for fitting of ships and export.

There is no obligation to obtain W.B.A. priority certificates, but the Control of Building Materials (No. 1) Order requires manufacturers and merchants to supply all orders which carry W.B.A. priority before non - priority orders. Shipbuilding and exports have, therefore, been included among the uses of building materials eligible for W.B.A. priority, in order that they shall not be subordinated to every priority requirement of the home market.

Is the Minister satisfied that in substance this procedure will mean that shipbuilding and exports are not held up from getting these materials?

Yes, Sir, and that is the reason why it was done.

Can the Minister give a reply to indicate that he understands the answer which he has given?

Certainly, and if I can help the hon. and gallant Gentleman, I will try to do so. Shipbuilding and exports get an equal priority with housing in this matter.

asked the Minister of Works why no provision is made in Control of Building Materials (No. 1) Order, 1947, such as existed in its predecessor, for emergency supplies of small quantities of controlled materials for essential work such as the repair of broken windows or lavatory pans.

Article 4 of the Order makes provision for emergency supplies, and the procedure under the Order has recently been simplified so that small quantities of certain goods can now be obtained for emergency use without any formality whatever.

Would the right hon. Gentleman make it clear that the procedure is something other than what is in the Order, that it has developed out of it?

It has been developed out of the Order to meet emergency needs in small quantities.