HC Deb 19 June 1967 vol 748 cc1103-5
19. Mr. Goodhart

asked the Minister of public Building and Works whether he will make a statement about the supply of Fletton bricks.

8. Mr. Kirk

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will make a statement about the future of brick production.

12. Mr. Blaker

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will meet representatives of the brick industry to discuss future production.

22. Mr. Channon

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will make an estimate of the likely production and consumption of bricks during 1968.

Mr. Prentice

There is sufficent plant capacity to meet foreseeable demands for bricks. There is at present a temporary shortage of Fletton bricks, but production and demand should come into balance later in the summer. Other bricks are plentiful.

I am confident that demand in 1968 will be greater than in 1967, but I am not in a position to give a precise forecast.

I am meeting representatives of the brick industry this week to discuss future demand and capacity.

Mr. Goodhart

As there has been yet another sharp fall in the production of Fletton bricks in the first quarter of this year, can the Minister now give an absolutely firm assurance that manufacturers can sharply increase production of Fletton bricks without running into yet another glut?

Mr. Prentice

The demand for bricks of all kinds is going up and will continue to go up further, for the reasons I have given in reply to earlier Questions. There is a very active demand for Fletton bricks. The London Brick Company has now brought all its spare capacity into operation. Some other producers have not quite got up to that point, but I hope that they will do so shortly.

Mr. Channon

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we are not surprised at his reluctance to make a forecast in view of the disastrous forecast made by his predecessor? What is he going to do to get the brick situation straight during 1968, remembering that everyone admits that the brick industry has, owing to Government policy, been through its worst crisis for 30 years?

Mr. Prentice

As on many previous occasions, the hon. Gentleman is exaggerating the position. The relationship of brick production with demand has been a difficult problem for the brick industry for many generations. Because of the nature of the product, it is not convenient to hold stocks of any great size; and therefore the industry must quickly move from a position of glut to a position of shortage. This situation is not something that has been created recently.

Mr. Maxwell

My constituency is the centre of the Fletton brick industry. Is my right hon. Friend aware that the only reason for the serious shortage today is because of the alarmist forecasts made by hon. Gentlemen opposite and the fact that those forecasts have been flowing out to the brick industry, the employers in that industry being only too glad to accept the advice of their former friends? When my right hon. Friend meets representatives of the industry, will he invite them to refuse to be politically tied to the Conservative Party?

Mr. Prentice

I have had a number of discussions with representatives of the brick industry. I have found that they do not talk in the rather hysterical accents of hon. Gentlemen opposite.

Mr. Chichester-Clark

By how many thousands of millions does the Minister believe the number of bricks produced in 1967 will fall below the target for 1965, the target set by the right hon. Gentleman's predecessor?

Mr. Prentice

I will be discussing the prospects for production in 1967 with representatives of the brick industry later this week. As I said in my original Answer, I do not propose to give a figure at this stage.