§ Mr. SUNLIGHTI beg to move,
That leave be given to introduce a Bill to fix dimensions of bricks Used on housing schemes subsidised by the State.The Bill which I ask leave to introduce is a one-clause Bill providing that the dimensions of bricks used in housing schemes subsidised by the State shall be 9 inches by 4½ inches by 3½ inches. In the course of the two days Debate on the Money Resolution in reference to the housing scheme it was stated repeatedly that we were short of bricklayers to build the number of houses required. I propose, therefore, by this short Bill, to increase the volume of brickwork without the addition of a single bricklayer or the imposition of any extra cost. Before the War, when bricks were one-third their present cost, they were from 3 to 3⅛ inches in thickness. Brickmaking firms combined to keep up prices, and in many cases immediately reduced the size of the bricks to 2¾ inches, not in my opinion saving them any cost thereby, but plainly to enable them to sell more bricks upon a particular piece of[...] work than were used in pro-War days.If we take the number of bricks of the larger size, which would produce 11 square yards of brickwork, the same number of bricks of the smaller size now used would produce only nine and a half square yards. Consequently, apart from the increased cost of labour and materials the increased cost of brickwork due to using the smaller-sized brick, as compared with the larger-sized brick, would be something like 15 per cent. In view of the exigencies of the moment, I propose to enlarge the size of the brick to three and a half inches without in any way affecting the machinery in the brickyard, or making the brick less handy for the bricklayer to use. A 100 years ago bricks were made four inches thick. Last year while reconstructing a building in Manchester I discovered that the bricks which were used in that building were four inches thick. Pursuing my researches I discovered that the builder of that building a 100 years ago was a Scotsman, and perhaps that will evoke the sympathy of the right hon. Gentleman the Minister of Health for my proposal.
As further justifying my proposal, may I say that so long as the State is going to be a party to the contract for housing 1950 people and is subsidising the cost of houses, it is entitled not only to make specifications as to the type of houses, but also as to their economic construction, by making regulations as to the material to be used. On the assumption that on a £500 cottage brickwork represents £150 in value, I claim that without the addition of a single man or an extra brick, by using the larger sized brick, we can save £30 on the cost of brickwork in each house and at the same time produce one fifth more in the number of houses in the same period. If the State is going to become public builders of houses all over the country, I think that we are entitled to consider the question of cheapness, and on the assumption that we are to save £30 on each house and that the subsidy is calculated for 40 years and that half of the amount saved would come from the subsidy on each £500 cottage, the State would save £15, which on 2,500,000 houses would represent £37,500,000. I know that the Minister of Health has introduced a Bill to control prices, but he has not included in that Bill any provision that bricks shall not be reduced in size, and even if the cost were reduced by the brick-makers, if they choose to reduce the size of the bricks they could in that way increase still further the actual cost of the brickwork. I sincerely hope that leave will be given to introduce this Bill, which is only one of a number of economic proposals which I have to bring for the consideration of this House.
§ Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEI think that this is one of the most extraordinary proposals which have ever been put before the House. If there be any reason for increasing the size of bricks, I fail to understand why the hon. Member has not gone a little bit further. If he proposes to make a brick 3½ inches thick, instead of 3 inches, and brings forward as an argument that Scostmen used to build with bricks 4 inches thick, I do not see what that has got to do with the housing scheme brought in by the Minister of Labour. If he wants to increase the size of bricks, why not make them a foot thick, or two feet thick? I would suggest that, instead of using a large number of bricks made specially beforehand, he should cast a brick which would do for one side of a house and so save the use of bricks altogether. That would get over the problem of the shortage of bricklayers.
§ Mr. HARDIEHow would you fire it?
§ Mr. SOMERVILLEIt would be a most dangerous precedent to fix in any shape or form, by State Regulations, the size of bricks. One of the great difficulties just now in getting houses built is the shortage of bricks. I understand that we are importing very large quantities of bricks from abroad, especially from Belgium. Belgian bricks are much smaller than English bricks. If my memory serves me right, most of the houses in Belgium are built of bricks about 2½ inches thick and 3½ inches long. Such bricks involve a certain amount of increased labour, but the bricks are available. Most of the bricks in this country are made by mechanical means. The proposals of the Bill would involve large alterations in the brickworks, and where bricks are made by hand, as they are in country districts where the housing shortage
§ is acute, they are made in hand presses. It would be necessary to scrap the whole of those hand presses, and thus you would throw out the big supply of bricks which is now available for building in country districts. One of our troubles to-day is the fact that there are so many restrictions and regulations which tie up building. If we have any more restrictions such as this Bill proposes building would be brought to a standstill. I oppose the Bill on every possible ground, both practical and theoretical, and I trust that the House will not give even a First Reading to such an absurd proposition.
§ Question put, "That leave be given to bring in a Bill to fix dimensions of bricks used in housing schemes subsidised by the State."
§ The House divided: Ayes, 140; Noes, 139.
1953| Division No. 97.] | AYES. | [3.34 p.m. |
| Adamson, W. M (Staff., Cannock) | Harris, John (Hackney, North) | Perry, S. F. |
| Alexander, A. V. (Sheffield, Hillsbro') | Harris, Percy A. | Pethick-Lawrence, F. w. |
| Baker, Walter | Hartshorn, Rt. Hon. Vernon | Phillipps, Vivian |
| Banton, G. | Harvey, T. E. (Dewsbury) | Potts, John S. |
| Barclay, R. Noton | Haycock, A. W. | Pringle, W. M. R. |
| Bellairs, Commander Carlyon W. | Hemmerde, E. G. | Purcell, A. A. |
| Benn, Captain Wedgwood (Leith) | Henderson, Right Hon. A. (Burniey) | Raffety, F. W. |
| Black, J. W. | Henderson, W. W. (Middlesex, Enfield) | Rea, W. Russell |
| Bramsdon, Sir Thomas | Hindle, F. | Ritson, J. |
| Broad, F. A. | Hirst, G. H. | Robertson, J. (Lanark, Bothwell) |
| Brown, A. E. (Warwick, Rugby) | Hoffman, P. C. | Royle, C. |
| Brown, James (Ayr and Bute) | Hore-Belisha, Major Leslie | Rudkin, Lieut.-Colonel C. M. C. |
| Brunner, Sir J. | Hudson, J. H. | Sexton, James |
| Buchanan, G. | Isaacs, G. A. | Shinwell, Emanuel |
| Chappie, Dr. William A. | Jenkins, W. A. (Brecon and Radnor) | Simon, E. D. (Manchester, Withington) |
| Clynes, Right Hon. John R. | Johnston, Thomas (Stirling) | Simpson, J. Hope |
| Collins, Patrick (Waisall) | Johnstons, Harcourt (Willesden, East) | Sinclair, Major Sir A. (Caithness) |
| Costello, L. W. J. | Jones, Henry Haydn (Merioneth) | Smith, Ben (Bermondsey, Rotherhithe) |
| Cowan, Sir Win. Henry (Islington, N.) | Jones, Morgan (Caerphllly) | Spencer, George A. (Broxtowe) |
| Crittall, V. G. | Jones, T. I. Mardy (Pontypridd) | Spencer, H. H. (Bradford, S.) |
| Davies, Alfred Thomas (Lincoln) | Jowett, Rt. Hon. F. W. (Bradford, E.) | Spero, Dr. G. E. |
| Davison, J. E. (Smethwick) | Kay, Sir R. Newbald | Spoor, B. G. |
| Dickson, T. | Kenyon, Barnet | Stewart, J. (St. Rollox) |
| Dodds, S. R. | Kirkwood, D. | Sturrock, J. Leng |
| Dunn, J. Freeman | Lambert, Rt. Hon. George | Sullivan, J. |
| Edwards, C. (Monmouth, Bedwelity) | Lansbury, George | Thorne, G. R. (Wolverhampton, E.) |
| Edwards, G. (Norfolk, Southern) | Law, A. | Thurtle, E. |
| Edwards, John H. (Accrington) | Lee, F. | Tinker, John Joseph |
| England, Colonel A. | Livingstone, A. M. | Viant, S. P. |
| Falconer, J. | Loverseed, J. F. | Walsh, Rt. Hon. Stephen |
| Finney, V. H. | Lowth, T. | Watson, W. M. (Dunfermline) |
| Fisher, Rt. Hon. Herbert A. L. | MacDonald, Rt. Hon. J. R. (Aberavon) | Watts-Morgan, Lt.-Col. D. (Rhondda) |
| Foot, Isaac | Mackinder, W. | Webb, Rt. Hon. Sidney |
| Fremantle, Lieut.-Colonel Francis E. | March, S. | Weir, L. M. |
| Gavan-Duffy, Thomas | Martey, James | White, H. G. (Birkenhead, E.) |
| George, Major G. L. (Pembroke) | Martin, F. (Abcrd'n & Kincardine, E.) | Whiteley, W. |
| Gibbins, Joseph | Martin, W. H. (Dumbarton) | Williams, David (Swansea, E.) |
| Gilbert, James Daniel | Mills, J. E. | Williams, Col. P. (Middlesbrough, E.) |
| Gorman, William | Morel, E. D. | Wintrey, Sir Richard |
| Greenall, T. | Morris, R. H. | Wintringham, Margaret |
| Grenfell, D. R. (Glamorgan) | Morrison, R. C. (Tottenham, N.) | Wolmer, Viscount |
| Griffiths, T. (Monmouth, Pontypool) | Mosley. Oswald | Wood, Major M. M. (Aberdeen, C.) |
| Grigg, Lieut.-Col. Sir Edward W. M. | Muir, John W. | Woodwark, Lieut.-Colonel G. G. |
| Groves, T. | Newman, sir R. H. S. D. L. (Exeter) | Wright, W. |
| Guest, J. (York, Hemsworth) | Nixon, H. | |
| Hamilton, Sir R. (Orkney & Shetland'. | Oliver, George Harold | TELLERS FOR THE AYES:— |
| Harbison, Thomas James S. | Oliver, P. M. (Manchester, Blackley) | Mr. Sunlight and Lady Terrington. |
| Hardie, George D. | Parkinson, John Allen (Wigan) | |
| NOES. | ||
| Adamson, Rt. Hon. William | Falle, Major Sir Bertram Godfrey | Remnant, Sir James |
| Allen, Lieut.-Col, Sir William James | Gardner, J. p. (Hammersmith, North) | Richardson, Lt.-Col. Sir P. (Chertsey) |
| Ashley, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Wilfrid W. | Gaunt, Rear-Admiral Sir Guy R. | Richardson, R, (Houghton-le-Spring) |
| Baldwin, Rt. Hon. Stanley | Glimour, Colonel Rt. Hon. Sir John | Roberts, Rt. Hon. F. O. (W. Bromwich) |
| Barker, G. (Monmouth, Abertillery) | Gosling, Harry | Roberts, Samuel (Hereford, Hereford) |
| Barnes, A. | Gould, Frederick (Somerset, Frome) | Romeril, H. G. |
| Barnett, Major Richard W. | Graham, D. M. (Lanark, Hamilton) | Rose, Frank H. |
| Barnston, Major Sir Harry | Greene, W. P. Crawford | Royce, William Stapleton |
| Batey, Joseph | Greenwood, A. (Nelson and Coine) | Sandeman, A. Stewart |
| Beckett, Sir Gervase | Guinness, Lieut.-Col. Rt. Hon. W. E. | Savery, S. S. |
| Bentinck, Lord Henry Cavendish- | Halt, F. (York, W. R., Normanton) | Scurr, John |
| Berry, Sir George | Hannon, Patrick Joseph Henry | Smillie, Robert |
| Bettorton Henry B. | Harvey, C. M. B. (Aberd'n & Kincardine) | Smith, T. (Pontefract) |
| Blundell, F. N. | Henderson, T. (Glasgow) | Smith-Carington, Neville W. |
| Bourne, Robert Croft | Hennessy, Major J. R. G. | Somerville, A. A. (Windsor) |
| Bowerman, Rt. Hon. Charles W. | Hobhouse, A. L. | Spence, R. |
| Bowyer, Captain G. E. W. | Hogbin, Henry Cairns | Steel, Samuel Strang |
| Brass, Captain W. | Howard, Hn. D. (Cumberland, Northn.) | Stephen, Campbell |
| Brassey, Sir Leonard | Howard-Bury, Lieut.-Col. C. K. | Stuart, Hon. J. (Moray and Nairn) |
| Briscoe, Captain Richard George | Jackson, R. F. (Ipswich) | Stuart, Lord C. Crichton |
| Brittain, Sir Harry | James, Lieut.-Colonel Hon. Cuthbert | Sueter, Rear-Admiral Murray Fraser |
| Bromfield, William | Jewson, Dorothea | Thompson, Luke (Sunderland) |
| Bullock, Captain M. | Kennedy, T. | Thomson, Sir W. Mitchell-(Croydon,S.) |
| Burman, J. B. | Klndorsley, Major G. M. | Tryon, Rt. Hon. George Clement |
| Burnle, Major J. (Bootle) | King, Captain Henry Douglas | Variey, Frank B. |
| Buxton, Rt. Hon. Noel | Leach, W, | Vivian, H. |
| Cape, Thomas | Lloyd-Greame, Rt. Hon. Sir Philip | Waddington, R. |
| Cautley, Sir Henry S. | Locker-Lampson, Com. O. (Handsw'th) | Wallhead, Richard C. |
| Cecil, Rt. Hon. Sir Evelyn (Aston) | Lorimer, H. D. | Warne, G. H. |
| Chamberlain, Rt. Hn. J. A. (Birm., W). | Lowe, Sir Francis William | Watson, Sir F. (Pudsey and Otley) |
| Church, Major A. G. | Lunn, William | Welsh, J. C. |
| Clarke, A. | Lynn, Sir R. J. | Westwood, J. |
| Clarry, Reginald George | McLean, Major A. | Whaler, Lieut.-Col. Granville C. H. |
| Climle, R. | Meller, R. J, | Williams, A. (York, W. R., Sowerby) |
| Cobb, Sir Cyril | Meyler, Lieut.-Colonel H. M. | Williams, Dr. J. H. (Lianelly) |
| Cohen, Major J. Brunei | Middleton, G. | Williams, Lt.-Col. T.S.B.(Kennington) |
| Courthope, Lieut. Col, George L. | Mitchell, Sir W. Lane (Streatham) | Williams, T. (York, Don Valley) |
| Cralk, Rt. Hon. Sir Henry | Morrison-Bell, Major sir A. C (Honiton) | Wilson, R. J. (Jarrow) |
| Curzon, Captain Viscount | Murray, Robert | Windsor, Walter |
| Davies, Maj. Geo. F. (Somerset, Yeovil) | Oman, sir Charles William C. | Windsor-Clive, Lieut.-Colonel George |
| Davison, Sir W. H. (Kensington, S.) | Ormsby-Gore. Hon. William | Wise, Sir Fredric |
| Dixey, A. C. | Paling, W. | Wragg, Herbert |
| Dukes, C. | Palmer, E. T. | Yate, Colonel Sir Charles Edward |
| Edmondson, Major A. J. | Pennefather, Sir John | |
| Egan, W. H. | Perkins, Colonel E. K. | TELLERS FOR THE NOES.— |
| Emlyn-Jones, J. E. (Dorset, N.J | Pilkington, R. R. | Mr. D. G. Somerville and Mr. Remer. |
| Erskine. James Malcolm Monteith | Pownall, Lieu).-Colonel Assheton | |
| Eyres-Monsell, Com. Rt. Hon. B. M. | Roes, Capt. J. T. (Devon, Barnstaple) |
§ Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. Sunlight, Mr. Masterman, Lieut.-Colonel Fremantle, Mr. Toole, and Mr. Compton.