§ Mr. Andersonasked the Minister of Public Building and Works, in view of the fact that, as a result of the stockpiles in the Welsh brick industry, particularly in East Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, closures and redundancies will follow in the industry, if he will give a forecast of the likely demand for bricks in Wales over the next six months.
§ Mr. PrenticeThe Government are co-operating with the construction and building materials industries, within the framework of the Economic Development Committees for Building and Civil Engineering, in seeking to form agreed estimates of demand for building materials, including bricks.
§ Mr. Andersonasked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he is aware that the present short-term difficulties in the Welsh brick industry result in part from unfair competition from outside sources; and whether he will issue a circular to local authorities to encourage the use of home-produced bricks, in view of the facts that closures of brickworks will have serious effects on the long-term building programme, and that 345W once works have closed down they will not reopen.
§ Mr. PrenticeNo. I have no evidence that the competition is unfair. I am sure that in spite of the present temporary difficulties many local brickmakers will be able to maintain their share of the market, without any protective measures.