Bricks

HC Deb 20 July 1964 vol 699 cc10-2W

Mr. Millan

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what types of brick are at present in short supply in Scotland.

Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) what local authority housing schemes are now being delayed through the current shortage of bricks;

(2) what local education authority building projects are being delayed through the current shortage of bricks;

(3) what major Government building contracts are now being delayed because of the current shortage of bricks.

Mr. Rippon

I have had reports of delays in the supply of bricks to a number of building sites and long delivery dates are being quoted for some types of bricks. But there is no evidence of any serious or widespread delay to building projects of any kind.

Mr. Millan

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what percentage of the bricks used in Scotland is. produced in Scotland; and how this percentage compares with the percentages for the years 1957 and 1960.

Mr. Rippon

No figures are available, but I estimate that less than 5 per cent. of Scottish demands are met from bricks produced outside Scotland and that the proportion was not significantly different in 1957 and 1960.

Mr. Millan

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the average delivering date at present for the supply of bricks in Scotland; and in what parts of Scotland longer than average delivery dates are being quoted.

Mr. Rippon

It is not possible to quote an average delivery date for orders generally. Contractors who ordered their bricks well in advance are obtaining them when they are needed. For new orders delivery dates generally average between three and four months. The position in the east of Scotland is a little more difficult than elsewhere.

Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what are the expected delivery dates of common bricks and facing bricks, respectively, ordered in Birmingham, Leeds, Croydon, Middlesbrough, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, respectively, this month for delivery in those towns.

—			Assessment of disablement (per cent)
			100	90	80	70	60	50	40
			s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
Actual pension rate—
July, 1954	…	…	55	0	49	6	44	0	38	6	33	0	27	6	22	0
February, 1955	…	…	67	6	60	9	54	0	47	3	40	6	33	9	27	0
January, 1958	…	…	85	0	76	6	68	0	59	6	51	0	42	6	34	0
April, 1961	…	…	97	6	87	9	78	0	68	3	58	6	48	9	39	0
May, 1963	…	…	115	0	103	6	92	0	80	6	69	0	57	6	46	0
Equivalent at June, 1964, prices of the rate payable in—
July, 1954	…	…	73	8	66	3	58	11	51	7	44	2	36	10	29	5
February, 1955	…	…	89	6	80	7	71	7	62	8	53	8	44	9	35	10
January, 1958	…	…	99	3	89	4	79	5	69	6	59	6	49	7	39	8
April, 1961	…	…	108	7	97	9	86	11	76	0	65	2	54	4	43	5
May, 1963	…	…	118	10	107	0	95	1	83	3	71	4	59	5	47	7

Mr. Rippon

The delivery dates being quoted for common bricks and facing bricks ordered this month are different for different brickmakers and merchants and it is not possible to give figures for particular localities.