Rebuilding Britain
The Ministry of Works and Buildings, like the Board of Educat is one of those departments where continuity of policy is m important, and where, it follows, one Minister should, if PossiN be allowed to remain a considerable time in office to bring hi schemes to maturity. But though his predecessor did not sta long enough to see his.plans far advanced, Lord Portal assured th House of Lords on Tuesday that his policy is that of Lord Rah and that he is pursuing the same objective—the planned use of th land for all purposes. The first Uthwatt report has already adopted, and a second report, nearly ready, will provide maten in the light of which a new Bill will be prepared. Meanwhile, the is an immense amount of spade-work to be done in preparation fo future tasks. Local authorities, or rather - combinations of I authorities, should be pressing on with their planning schemes, and should receive the active encouragement and advice of the Ministry It is important that this work shall be completed as soon as possible for building on the largest scale—domestic, public and industrial must begin from the moment the war ends. Materials will be need
then, the completed plans, and schemes for the allocation of labour. It was gratifying to learn that Lord Portal is concerned about the preservation of extensive areas of natural beauty, and especiallY the coast-line. Public interest should be sustained by the publication of concrete plans, so far as they are available, for particular areas.
We have heard-a good deal about Coventry. What about the new London that is to grow up on both sides-of the Thames when the time for reconstruction comes?
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