HC Deb 25 April 1966 vol 727 cc328-9
1. Mr. Edward M. Taylor

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what stocks of bricks were available in Scotland at the most recent date for which figures are available; and what was the comparable figure in the same month of the previous year.

12. Mr. Chichester-Clark

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what estimate he has formed of the number of bricks in stock.

15. Mr. Hornby

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what was the number of bricks produced in February, 1966; and how this compares with the equivalent figures for January, 1966, December, 1965, and November, 1965.

The Minister of Public Building and Works (Mr. R. E. Prentice)

There were 882 million bricks, about five or six weeks' usage, in stock at the end of March, including 58 million, three or four weeks' supply, in Scotland. Production figures for November and December, 1965, and January, February and March, 1966, were 652, 592, 569, 552 and 650 million, respectively.

Mr. Taylor

Does the hon. Gentleman recall any year since the war when stocks of bricks have been so high at this time of the year, and would he not regard it as a condemnation of the Government's policies that housebuilding in Scotland last year went down by 2,000 and fell again in January and February, this at a time when brick stocks are so large?

Mr. Prentice

Yes, Sir. Stocks were higher than this in 1963. They tend to fluctuate. There have been instances of gluts and shortages over many years. As for the situation in Scotland, I am sure the hon. Gentleman will welcome the fact that the seasonal increase in demand started more quickly there than in England and Wales. Stocks in Scotland, at 58 million bricks, are only 6 million higher than a year ago.

Mr. Chichester-Clark

Can we hope from this Minister that, unlike his predecessor, he will not over-stimulate the production of bricks at a time when the Chancellor of the Exchequer is restraining funds for house purchase and when the Minister of Housing and Local Government is cutting back on homes for owner-occupation?

Mr. Prentice

My predecessor inherited a great shortage of bricks and, I say in retrospect, the action he took was absolutely correct. As for the subsequent measures of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, those were dictated by the economic crisis inherited from the previous Government.