§ Mr. Loveysasked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will give details of the reasons for the present shortage of home-produced cement; to what extent home production is being increased; and when the present shortage is likely to be overcome.
§ Mr. BoydenDemand for cement rose very sharply in 1964, and is continuing to increase rapidly this year, since many construction programmes are ahead of schedule. This has outstripped the manufacturers' planned expansion of capacity. It is normally possible to meet a temporary excess demand by imports, but this has been more difficult than usual this year because of shortage of cement all over Europe. Large imports have, however, now been arranged, and considerable new capacity is being brought into operation during this year and the next. This should increase capacity for home production by about 7 per cent. by the end of 1965, and by about a further 10 per cent. during 1966. The situation should therefore improve gradually and the manufacturers have assured us that they will continue to import until home supplies match demand.