HC Deb 28 June 1948 vol 452 cc1805-8
2. Mr. Keenan

asked the Minister of Works why cement supplies on Merseyside are so scarce, that builders and builders' merchants are complaining that work is being held up.

Mr. Key

Lancashire and Cheshire are receiving more cement this summer than at any time in the past year, and a fair proportion of the cement available in the country as a whole. I am aware that complaints of shortage are still being received from Merseyside, and I am looking into this matter.

Mr. Keenan

Will my right hon. Friend note that the workmen are very much concerned because there is a large incidence of unemployment in Liverpool? Will he convey to the Government that the trades associations are definitely asserting that the cause of the shortage is the large amount we are exporting?

Mr. Key

I think I made it quite plain in the House recently that the amount of cement being used in this country at present is from 20 to 25 per cent. more than it was last year.

Mr. Baldwin

When the right hon. Gentleman is looking into the shortage in the district concerned, will he inquire into other districts, because in the West Midlands area we are very short of cement?

Mr. Key

Yes, we inquire into each district. As I tried to explain to the House, there is an allocation scheme by which we try to secure a fair distribution between various districts of the country.

Mr. Beswick

Will my right hon. Friend answer the second part of the supplementary question by my hon. Friend the Member for Kirkdale (Mr. Keenan)? Is it the case that builders in this country are short of cement because cement is being exported?

Mr. Key

No, Sir, as I said, there is more cement—something like 20 to 25 per cent. more—being used in this country.

Mr. Beswick

Is it not probable that the demand is more than 25 per cent. higher than it was last year?

5. Mr. Chetwynd

asked the Minister of Works whether any priority is given to the supply of cement for the construction of factories in development areas.

Mr. Key

The supply of cement for factory construction in development areas is given preference over supplies for most other uses.

Mr. Chetwynd

Will my right hon. Friend really look into the question of the distribution of cement, because there are many factories in development areas which are being held up at present? Will he also have an investigation made to see that cement goes to the most urgent jobs?

Mr. Key

If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of cases where that is happening, I will certainly look into them. Applications made to my regional officers by people in the areas concerned lead to the matter being attended to and to cement being sent where it is required.

Sir Waldron Smithers

Will the right hon. Gentleman say how much is being exported?

Mr. Speaker

This Question merely asks if priority is given to the supply of cement for factories in development areas.

Sir W. Smithers

Is not the shortage due to the fact that too much is being exported?

7. Mr. Willis

asked the Minister of Works how much cement has been delivered to Scotland during each of the first five months of 1948; and how much it is expected will be delivered in June.

Mr. Key

As the answer is in tabular form I propose, with my hon. Friend's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Willis

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that there is now sufficient going there to meet the growing needs of the hydro-electric scheme in addition to housing, because there are still complaints of shortages?

Mr. Key

The demands for the hydroelectric scheme as well as for other purposes are, of course, growing. We are trying to increase deliveries to Scotland and I can say that from January to May there has been an increase of nearly 40 per cent. in the deliveries made.

Colonel J. R. H. Hutchison

Has the Minister now instituted a system whereby the receivers of this cement receive reasonable notice of loads arriving? In the past they have had no notice.

Mr. Key

The delivery of cement is a matter for the cement manufacturers and the cement organisations. My only function is, by negotiation with them, to get them to arrange the delivery of cement. The delivery of cement is not my function.

Following is the statement:

APPROXIMATE QUANTITIES OF CEMENT DELIVERED IN SCOTLAND INCLUDING LOCAL MANUFACTURE.
Month. Basis of Calculation. Quantity Delivered in Tons.
January, 1948 Calendar Month 50,100
February, 1948 Calendar Month 52,700
March, 1948 Calendar Month 61,600
April, 1948 5 weeks 65,900
May, 1948 4 weeks 69,700

Deliveries during the first three weeks of June have been at a slightly higher rate than the average for May.