asked the Minister of Supply whether, with a view to maintaining the framework of the building industry, he will consider relaxing the ban on civil building to allow a small well-distributed flow of work to proceed?

So far as the Ministry of Supply is concerned, no ban has been placed on civil building, except in so far as arises out of inability to release, for allocation by the Departments immediately concerned, more than a limited quantity of certain materials used in building which are in short supply. As regards this aspect of the matter, I am replying to another question by the hon. Member on the subject of timber.