asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what progress is being made in the study of methods of weather-proof building, with a view to saving unemployment during the winter when present-day building methods cannot be undertaken.

My right hon. Friend has appointed a technical committee to examine the problems of winter building and to report before the winter. It will examine techniques for dealing with these problems on the basis of existing knowledge and experience in this country and abroad. The committee has also been asked to advise on which matters further research is required.

Will the hon. Gentleman take steps to ensure that the report comes in good time so that we may cope with the building situation which must of necessity arise in the winter, particularly in view of the fact that a considerable amount of unemployment is created in consequence of it not being possible to proceed with the normal type of building?

The committee has been asked to produce its report as soon as possible, and it will be published.

Does the hon. Gentleman appreciate that something more than a saving of unemployment is involved in this? The building industry is not one of the best industries. It has an element of casual labour in it, and it is a very dirty industry. There may be something to be said for giving the people who work in this necessary industry rather more dignity than they have at present.

That is one of the points which my right hon. Friend has been emphasising in his speeches.

Will my hon. Friend draw the attention of local authorities to this report when it is published?

I will see that my hon. Friend's point is taken care of.