§ 38. Mr. Dribergasked the Minister of Works if he is aware that work on a number of council houses under construction at Southminster and Tillingham, Essex, has been held up for three months because the facing bricks needed for them have not been delivered; what steps his progress officer at Cambridge has taken to secure delivery; and if delivery can now be speeded.
§ Mr. StokesI am informed that the facing bricks ordered were not local bricks, of which stocks are available, but sand-faced fletton bricks of which there is a shortage. Deliveries are, however, now being made. I would remind my hon. Friend that progress officers ceased to be employed last October in the interests of economy and in view of the general improvement in supplies.
§ Mr. DribergIs my right hon. Friend aware, at any rate, that the contractors engaged on this job were in communication only a few weeks ago with someone employed by him at Cambridge, whether he is ineptly called a progress officer or not? Is he also aware that small firms such as this are put at a disadvantage by the practice of large firms which buy at one time more bricks than they need?
§ Mr. StokesI am aware of both of those facts, but if the users insist on this 591 special type of brick they will just have to wait until supplies are available.