HC Deb 15 December 1965 vol 722 cc307-8W
Mr. Garratt

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what steps he has taken to improve building material supplies in the North-East of England.

Mr. Boyden

During the past year there have been national shortages of bricks, cement, copper-tubing, sanitary ware and plasterboard which affected the North-East as well as the rest of the country.

We have kept in close touch with the manufacturers of these materials, and the shortages have now been overcome with the exception of plasterboard. Additional capacity is coming into operation during the winter, and we expect supply to catch up with demand during the course of next year.

Mr. Garrett

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what are the delivery dates for cement, plasterboard and bricks in the North-East of England; and how these compare with the position a year ago.

Mr. Boyden

Immediate deliveries of cement and bricks can now be obtained in the North-East of England. A year ago there were delays of a few days in the delivery of cement and of about four months for common bricks and rather longer for facing bricks.

Delivery periods for plasterboard in the North-East depend on the source of supply but at present there are delays of about 40 weeks. A year ago the delays were a little shorter.