§ 83. Mr. RONALD McNEILLasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, owing to the prohibition of building during the War, some of the owners of brickworks were obliged to close down their business and dismiss their employés, and are now unable to reopen their works through lack of capital and difficulty in obtaining advances; and whether, with a view to increasing the supply of materials for housing schemes, the Government are prepared to make Grants to such owners of brickworks to enable them to reopen business?
Mr. HOPEI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by me on the 26th of May to the hon. and gallant Member for Bournemouth:
The Government have given assistance to the trade by placing orders with makers at prices ensuring a reasonable profit, and by making liberal payments on account so soon as the bricks were out of the kiln, and before actual delivery. These arrangements have produced satisfactory results, and it is hoped will have the effect of putting the trade on a sound footing.2284 The Government is not prepared to make direct Grants to the owners of disused brickworks to enable thorn to reopen business.