HC Deb 13 June 1966 vol 729 cc1012-3
14. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will enumerate those building materials included in the early warning system; and if he will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the rising prices in this sphere.

Mr. Prentice

Bricks, cement, sand and gravel, flat glass and plasterboard are included in the early warning system. I do not consider any reference to the Board necessary at present. I shall consider any proposed price increases as they are notified to me.

Mr. Hamilton

Can my right hon. Friend say on what basis these commodities were chosen for reference to the Board? Does he recall the information from Fife County Council which I sent to him indicating that electrical wiring cables, which are not in the list he has given, have gone up by rather more than 50 per cent. in the last year? Does not he think that that is a case for reference to the Board?

Mr. Prentice

The commodities were chosen in relation to construction, as they were in relation to other industries, because of their strategic importance and because these were commodities over which there is domestic control and in which imports do not play a large part. A number of items listed by my hon. Friend when he wrote to us were items in which the price of imported raw materials played a very large part indeed.

Mr. Sharples

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider referring to the 13oard the effect of the Selective Employment Tax on the cost of construction?

Mr. Prentice

No.