§ 117. Mr. Baldwinasked the Minister of Works if he is aware that the shortage of cement in north Herefordshire is holding up the building of houses; and what steps he proposes to take to make supplies more plentiful.
§ Mr. StokesNo. No complaint of the interruption of housing work has been reported to my Ministry from this area.
§ 120. Mr. Bevinsasked the Minister of Works if he is aware of the acute shortage of cement in Liverpool; and what steps he is taking to speed up supplies.
§ 127. Mr. Keenanasked the Minister of Works what steps his regional officers are taking to overcome the shortage of cement supplies in the Liverpool area, which is holding up building work.
§ Mr. StokesAfter consulting with my regional officers a substantial increase is being made from this week in the deliveries of cement to Liverpool.
§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Works how much cement has been imported into Britain; how much has been exported from Britain since 1st January, 1950; and on what date imports from the Continent were stopped.
§ Mr. StokesBetween 1st January and 31st March this year, 57 tons of cement120W were imported and 442,623 tons exported. Later figures are not yet available. Imports from the Continent have not been stopped; in the next two months about 60,000 tons are expected from the Continent
§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Works why, in view of the acute housing shortage in the country, priority for cement was given to the building of the Festival of Britain site.
§ Mr. StokesNo priority for cement has been given to the building of the Festival of Britain site, which in fact requires less than 2 per cent. of the total supplies to London, the major part of which has long since been delivered.