HOUSING IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26264, 8 November 1950, Page 7

HOUSING IN BRITAIN

Labour Survives Confidence Vote

i.(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, Noy. 7. The British Labour Government last night defeated by 12 votes a Conservative challenge on one of ithe most controversial issues in domestic politics—housing. The Conservatives led by Mr Churchill attacked the Government insistence (that the country could only afford •200.000 new houses a year. They urged 300,000 as the target and the vote was on a virtual motion of censure.

The next test of strength comes later to-day when the Liberals will be allied with Conservatives on a motion opposing Government plans to make economic controls permanent. During last night’s debate the Health Minister (Mr Aneurin Bevan) warned Mr Churchill that he was handling “dynamite” and described the Conservative campaign for more houses as “organised hyprocisy.” Mr Bevan alleged that slum landlords contributed to Tory Party funds. Mr Churchill called Mr Bevan a “guilty Minister” who had incurred blame and condemnation for not offering a constructive housing statement. Mr Churchill taunted Mr Bevan by recalling a speech of four years ago in which the Health Minister said that tne back of the housing problem would b*» broken. Mr Churchill said that there was no reason why the output a man in the British building trade should be lower t. an before tne war. or so much lower than in the United States. Free from anxiety that their work would fnish with the job. they could go ahead with piece work and other incentive schemes which alone might increase building by 20 to 25 per cent., he said.