§ 41. Sir H. Williamsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings what is the average cost per 1,000 of the recovery of bricks from premises damaged by enemy action?
§ Mr. HicksThe recovery of bricks from damaged buildings is incidental to general clearance and demolition. It is not ordinarily economic either in cost or labour to carry out demolition and salvage solely for the sake of recovering bricks or similar building materials. The cost of cleaning salvaged bricks may, moreover, amount to between 10s. and 20s. per 1,000.
§ Sir H. WilliamsHas the hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to the discussion recently in, I think, the Wands-worth Borough Council, where a calculation was presented indicating that 1,000 bricks were costing an additional sum of £15 to salvage, and that such bricks could be made for £3, and will the hon. Gentleman examine that position?
§ Mr. HicksThat question does not arise out of the Question on the Paper. The answer I have given is that the question of the salvage of bricks is dependent upon a number of factors—whether they are three or four storeys from the ground, whether they are in a basement, whether they are built with cement mortar or lime mortar, and the type and quality of the bricks.
§ Sir H. WilliamsDoes the hon. Gentleman appreciate that it may be a great 253 waste of man-power to use men to salvage bricks when the bricks can be produced much more economically?