§ 54. Mr. E. Dunnasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that approximately 200,000,000 foreign bricks per annum continue to be imported into the South of England, notwithstanding the import duties of 10 per cent., while the brickmakers in this country can more than produce the whole of the bricks required; and whether he has any proposals to make to remedy this?
§ Mr. RuncimanThe total imports of bricks into the United Kingdom in 1936 amounted to nearly 208,000,000, which represents only a small proportion of the total consumption of bricks in this country.
§ Mr. E. SmithIs the President of the Board of Trade aware of the huge success of the new process of the manufacture of bricks from slag heaps and similar heaps of that character and, in view of this success, will he consult the Minister of Labour with a view to the adoption of this new process in the Special Areas?
§ Mr. RuncimanA question of that nature ought, obviously, to be put upon the Paper.
§ Captain StricklandIn view of the fact that the Opposition are now Protectionists in this matter, will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to protect this industry to a greater extent than he has done up to the present?
§ Mr. T. WilliamsIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Opposition are not Protectionists in this matter?