§ Mr. J. Griffithsasked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that contracts for bricks required in the construction of Government establishments in South Wales have been given to the London Brick Company, when local brickworks are idle; whether he can state the cost of conveying these bricks from the place of production to sites of factories; and whether, in order to save cost, and conserve the use of transport, he will draw the supply from works nearer the sites?
§ Mr. RamsbothamBricks are purchased for these works by the building contractors. At the establishments in South Wales, for the construction of which my Department is responsible, and to which I think the hon. Member refers, all the bricks at one are of local make: at two others about 20,000,000 bricks in each case, representing 60per cent. of the bricks used up to date, are also of local make. As regards current contracts, it will take some time to collect the information as to the cost of transport which the hon. Member desires, and I will communicate with him as soon as it is available.