§ 1. Mr. Peter Millsasked the Minister of Public Building and Works why there is an acute shortage of plasterboard in the West Country; and what he proposes to do about it, in view of the fact that in the Torrington area the delay is at least 12 months.
§ 28. Mr. Murrayasked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will make a statement on the progress made in remedying the shortage of plasterboard.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Public Building and Works (Mr. James Boyden)There is a national shortage of plasterboard, and the situation in the West Country is no exception. The manufacturers are providing additional capacity, and the difficulties should ease progressively.
§ Mr. MillsWould not the hon. Gentleman agree that these annual chronic shortages in the building industry must be overcome? We are rather tired of the pathetic excuses which the manufacturers keep making. Will the hon. Gentleman take action now and not just look into the matter?
§ Mr. BoydenThe answer to the first part of the question is "Yes, Sir". The manufacturers are making strenuous efforts, and I hope before very long to be able to give more satisfactory answers to these points.
§ Mr. SnowHow can my hon. Friend reconcile the apparently reasonably good 1090 development of the housing programme with these recurrent shortages of component parts? I have already written to his right hon. Friend the Minister about another component part of building. Is it possible to reconcile the housing programme with these recurrent shortages, which indicate bad management programming?
§ Mr. BoydenThe building materials manufacturers are increasing their output all the time. Fortunately, the builders and contractors are also increasing their output. Better organisation and better estimation is one of the answers.