§ 28 and 29. Mr. Kershawasked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) what was the stock of bricks at the latest convenient date; and what it was 12 months before that date;
§ (2) how many bricks were produced in each of the last five quarters years.
§ 30. Mr. Chichester-Clarkasked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will make a statement about the brick situation.
§ Mr. C. PannellFewer bricks were put into stock in January than in December. Brick stocks at the end of January, 1966, were 709 million, about one month's normal usage compared with only five to six days' stock in January, 1965—140 million. Production figures for each of the last five quarters ending with December, 1965, were 2,058, 1,991, 2,032, 1,940 and 1,905 million.
§ Mr. KershawIs not that a disgraceful situation? Why did the right hon. Gentleman stimulate the brick industry to work so much harder with the result that bricks are now accumulating in such numbers because of the shortfall in demand?
§ Mr. PannellI stimulated the brick industry—if that is the right word—in order to meet demands over the next four years, and the stocks are not astronomical. In 1963, they were very much higher but were down to normal by June. I imagine that the same sort of thing will take place again this year.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that until very recently these figures were always available on 1706 the 23rd or 24th of the following month? Why is he holding them up? Does not he want to throw daylight on this situation? Surely he is also wrong in his statement about the winter of 1962–63. Is not he always taking refuge in that alibi, despite the fact that that was a terrible winter when building activity stopped for three months?
§ Mr. PannellThe hon. Gentleman's supplementary question carries the innuendo that I have concealed something. A similar charge was made by his hon. Friend the Member for Southend, West (Mr. Channon) during the Second Reading of the Building Control Bill. The hon. Member for Southend, West had to withdraw it.
§ Sir P. RobertsIs not this muddle the direct result of Socialist planning?
§ Mr. PannellThere is no muddle. If the hon. Gentleman had been in on this argument before, he would know that when I came to office there was no more than a two to three days' supply of bricks and that bricklayers were idle. The building industry could not escape the measures which have affected the whole economy. However, we have good reason for optimism because no fewer than 444,000 houses were under construction in 1965 and new housing starts both in the public and the private sectors are showing a good upturn at the present time.
§ Mr. ChannonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that my reason for making the allegation on the Second Reading of the Building Control Bill was due to the incompetence of his Press Office, which could not give me the figures?
§ Mr. PannellThat is not true. If the hon. Gentleman had known his way about the House of Commons he would have known that the figures were in the Library at the time.
§ Mr. Chichester-Clark rose—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. We must get on.