From the archive: Conservative housing proposals - 7 november, 1950

THE Conservative amendment to the Address in reply to the King’s Speech, demanding that an extra 100,000 houses per year be built as soon as possible, was defeated in the House of Commons last night by 300 votes to 288, a majority of 12 for the Government.

Closing speeches by Mr Churchill and Mr Hector McNeil, the Secretary of State for Scotland, were made in a tense atmosphere after one of the most bitter Parliamentary debates of recent years. Mr Bevan (Minister of Health) made a fierce personal attack on Mr Ernest Marples, MP for Wallasey, who opened the debate for the Conservatives, accusing Mr Marples, a building contractor, of leaving house-building for power station work – “following the profit motive” as the Minister termed his action. In turn, Mr Churchill attacked Mr Bevan, saying the rate of building did nothing to solve the problem; it only kept the situation as it was.