§ Mr. Goldingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will hold an inquiry into the proposed increases in the price of cement.
§ Mr. ChannonThe Cement Makers' Federation announced last September that the price of Portland Cement would be increased by 12s. per ton from 1st October, 1970. The federation stated that there would be no further increases in the price of cement for at least nine months unless there were substantial increases in the cost of manufacture. I have expressed to the federation my concern at the possible effects on the already reduced workload of the construction industry of any increase in the price of a basic building material, but see no grounds for a specific inquiry.