§ 17. Mr. A. Edwardsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether he will publish the Report on Cement by the Balfour Committee?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings (Mr. Hicks)Yes, Sir. I expect it to be ready quite shortly.
§ 18. Mr. Edwardsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether he will give a list of cement works on Thames side where the cost of production exceeds 16s. per ton; and whether he will take steps to reduce the prices of 46s. 6d. to 49s. per ton for four-ton lots, ex-works in the London area, as this is considered by users to be unreasonably high?
§ Mr. HicksThe answer to the first part of the Question is that the cost of pro- 1835 duction exceeds 16s. per ton in the case of all Thamesside cement works, but it must be added that production cost is only one of a number of elements in the price to consumers. As I have already informed my hon. Friend, the Minister is satisfied that current price levels are not excessive.
§ Mr. EdwardsHas the Minister taken advice from consumers as well as from contractors?
§ Mr. HicksMy hon. Friend will see on the Order Paper a Question put down, to be replied to after the Recess, asking for more specific details.