§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total production of bricks, of all kinds, for each of the last 10 years; and what estimate he has made of the level of production in 1974.
§ Mr. KaufmanThe figures for the total production in Great Britain of bricks of all kinds for each of the last 10 years, 1964–1973, are as follows:
Millions 1964 … … … … 7,954 1965 … … … … 7,868 1966 … … … … 7,072 1967 … … … … 7,208 1968 … … … … 7,465 1969 … … … … 6,734 1970 … … … … 6,062 1971 … … … … 6,541 1972 … … … … 6,938 1973 … … … … 7,183 In the first four months of 1974 brick production was running at an annual rate of 5,500 million. Production was reduced during this period as a result of short-time working early in 1974 and the low level of private housing starts. It is not at present possible to provide firm estimates of total production in 1974.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that sufficient bricks will be available at the end of this year to prevent bottlenecks in the house building programme.
§ Mr. KaufmanI have no reason to think that the supply position on bricks at the end of this year will lead to bottlenecks in the house building programme.
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§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will set out in tabular form the level of stocks, production and deliveries of bricks for each of the last 12 months.
§ Mr. KaufmanThe levels of stocks, production and deliveries of bricks of all types in Great Britain for each of the 12 months from May 1973 to April 1974 inclusive were as follows:
Millions Stocks Production Deliveries 1973: May 174 663 684 June 166 630 639 July 154 552 565 August 155 547 545 September 178 587 564 October 213 665 630 November 278 622 553 December 362 446 362 1974: January 348 410 424 February 333 390 406 March 386 508 455 April 453 519 451 These figures are not seasonally adjusted. The figures for May 1974 are not yet available.