HC Deb 11 February 1952 vol 495 cc143-4W
Mr. Enoch Powell

asked the Minister of Works the date of the survey on which his figures for brickworks in the Midland region are based; how many of the brickworks have since ceased to manufacture bricks; and what is his present estimate of the latent capacity which could actually be called into production in brickworks in the region.

Mr. Eccles

A survey of brickworks in the Midland region was started in the autumn of 1950 and completed early in 1951. No brickworks have been closed down in the region since the survey. At the time of the survey the brickmakers estimated their maximum output under the most favourable circumstances at about 600 million bricks a year. These servants it is proposed to dismiss in the next six months; what are the respective numbers for each Department; what proportion these numbers bear to the present total staffs of the respective Departments; what are the respective numbers for each class; and what proportion these numbers bear to the present total staffs in each class.

Mr. J. Stuart

The following table gives the numbers in various classes by which it is proposed to reduce the non-industrial staffs of my four Departments within the period ending on 30th June, 1952. Percentages of present numbers are given in brackets. The numbers to be discharged will be considerably smaller as normal wastage will create vacancies that will not be filled. The total number of the reductions over all Departments and all classes is 178 or 3.5 per cent.

estimates may have been optimistic. I am informed that 520 million is a more realistic figure. To reach this figure current output would have to increase by about 90 million a year.