§ Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if, in view of the closure of several brickworks in Scotland due to the shortage of labour, she will take steps to encourage the recruitment of suitable labour, with a view to expediting that work and reducing the cost of housebuilding in Scotland.
§ Mr. FernyhoughI have written to my hon. Friend explaining that, according to my information, recent closures of Scottish brickworks have not been due solely to labour difficulties, and that it is only in certain limited areas of Central Scotland that production is seriously affected by such difficulties. My Department is doing and will continue to do all it can to meet the demands of the industry and to help resolve production problems.