HC Deb 25 July 1966 vol 732 cc1205-6
37. Mr. Biffen

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what estimates he has made of the rise in the costs of building material producers over the last nine months.

Mr. Prentice

No general estimates have been made.

Mr. Biffen

Is it not true that there has been a considerable increase in the costs of building materials producers, largely on account of the inflated stocks they have to carry? Will the Minister give an undertaking that this disability will not apply to producers during the coming year?

Mr. Prentice

The increase in prices over the period referred to in the Question is about 2 per cent. To what extent this has been due to rising costs is a question I cannot accurately answer, because I do not have that type of statistics available.

Mr. Rankin

On a point of order. Would my right hon. Friend the Minister speak a little more quietly? I cannot hear what is going on in committee in front of me.

Mr. Prentice

I apologise to my hon. Friend. I was saying in answer to the supplementary question that we are able to give figures about the rise in prices but we are not able to break down the effect on costs in each of the building material industries, of which there are a very large number.