37. Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSONasked the Minister of Labour the number of bricklayers employed in 1913; the number employed at the present time; the output of bricks in this country in 1913; and the rate of annual output at the present time?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDIt is estimated that in 1913 there were in Great Britain 69,000 bricklayers in the building industry within the scheme of unemployment insurance, of whom 5,760 were recorded as unemployed at 21st February, 1913; as compared with 71,090 1995 insured at July, 1926, of whom 3,145 were recorded as unemployed at 21st February, 1927. It is estimated that the output of bricks in Great Britain during the last 12 months was about 6,000 millions as compared with something in the neighbourhood of 3,500 millions in 1913.
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSCan the right hon. Gentleman state what proportion of the bricklayers are now engaged on new construction and what proportion on repairs, and give the comparable figures?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDNo, Sir.
§ Mr. SHEPHERDWhy is it that with this huge production of bricks, the price has not gone down?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI cannot say that, any more than can I say why with the increased production of houses prices have not gone down.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs it not because of the big demand that the price has not gone down?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDEvery Member is a good enough economist to put his own construction on the figures.
§ Mr. THORNEThe law of supply and demand, always.