HC Deb 13 December 1938 vol 342 cc1801-2
62. Mr. Johnston

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the ducts for underground service in the Lennox Castle works of the Glasgow Corporation are built of reinforced concrete; and why it is considered necessary to construct similar works of brick at the Hillington Industrial Estate?

Mr. Colville

I am informed that the use of concrete for the Lennox Castle ducts was rendered necessary by the nature of the ground. In the case of the Hillington Industrial Estate I am informed that the underground ducts are constructed partly of brick and partly of concrete and that this method of construction was regarded by the technical advisers of the estates company as the most satisfactory for the particular requirements.

Mr. Johnston

In view of the shortage of bricklayers for housing schemes in Glasgow and the neighbourhood, would it not have been desirable in this instance that the admirable example of Lennox Castle should have been followed at Hillington?

Mr. Colville

I did bear in mind the shortage of bricks and labour in my representations to the company, but their technical advisers in this particular instance advised in the sense I have indicated.

63. Mr. Johnston

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can give, approximately, the number of bricks absorbed and the bricklayers employed on the Hillington Industrial Estate since its inception; and whether he can give any reason why the factories there constructed on the unit system have not been built of poured concrete, with a view to the release of labour for house construction in Glasgow and elsewhere in the neighbour-hood?

Mr. Colville

I am informed that an average of 50 bricklayers have been employed at the Hillington Industrial Estate since building operations commenced in June, 1937, and that about 6¼ million bricks have been laid. I am further informed that the question of using poured concrete was carefully considered by the Estates Company but that their technical advisers took the view that owing to the scale of construction and the degree of insulation required the use of bricks was preferable.

Mr. Johnston

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that poured concrete is being used for building houses for the working classes, and that it might have been desirable that this industrial estate should have been built of poured concrete in order to release the necessary bricks and bricklayers for housebuilding?

Mr. Colville

I am advised that the use of poured concrete construction presents greater difficulties in the case of factory construction than in the case of house-building, but I will bear in mind what the right hon. Gentleman has said.

Mr. Leonard

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that the industries housed at Hillington can proceed with their operations in poured concrete factories all over the country?