§ 28. Mr. A. Edwardsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Planning whether he is aware that a considerable quantity of bricks suit- table for building purposes are being wasted under a recent recommendation by the Advisory Committee; and whether he will take the appropriate steps to stop it?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Planning (Mr. Hicks)My noble Friend has recently received a series of recommendations from the National Brick Advisory Council, but has not yet given his decisions upon them. I can assure the hon. Member that no recommendation has been made the acceptance of which would involve the waste referred to in the Question.
§ Mr. EdwardsIs my hon. Friend not aware that some brick manufacturers have been told that the bricks they call "seconds"—which are defective only in appearance, and are 100 per cent. equal to all other bricks for practical purposes—must be broken up and used for concrete, which means that they are sold at 2s. 6d. a ton instead of at twenty-odd shillings a ton?
§ Mr. HicksMy hon. Friend must have been misinformed on this matter. It is not correct that the brick manufacturers have been so advised. In the south-east and south-west "firsts" and "seconds" have always been sorted out—a very old custom in these areas—in order that "seconds" should be sold at a lower price than "firsts." Elsewhere, including the north of England, it has been the practice to sell common bricks "run of kiln." In any case, the matter is under consideration, and no decision has been reached.
§ Mr. EdwardsMay I take it that no such instruction will go forth to manufacturers in the north of England?