§ Mr. Goldingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to create a brick bank; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreesonThere are already considerable stocks of bricks and I can hold out no hope of the Government financing further stockpiling. Brick manufacturers will get some help from the concession on the taxation of stock profits announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget Statement on 12th November, and from the proposed changes in the Price Code. The real answer to the problems facing the brick industry is increased house building. Local authority house building is rising and the flow of mortgages has much improved but I am now considering what further initiatives can be taken.