§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the extent of loss of United Kingdom building materials to EEC countries; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChannonThe "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom", published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, show that during the first 10 months of 1973 exports to the EEC countries of the following building materials were:
Materials Tonnes Gypsum and Plaster 2,657 Cement 15,677 Constructional steelwork 43,973 Sand 28,189 Gravel and crushed stone (including tarred macadam) 3,474,293 In each case these exports represent less than 2 per cent. of the total United Kingdom production.
§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a further statement on the supply of building materials to the United Kingdom building industry; and if he will identify the commodity categories now in short supply;
(2) what action he proposes to take to prevent shortages of building materials causing redundancies to building trade workers this winter.
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§ Mr. ChannonThere has been a gradual improvement in the supply of the main building materials, but there are still problems in the supply of timber, plaster and plasterboard, and supplies of steel, which are already short, will inevitably be affected by the current fuel difficulties. The position of timber is largely dependent on the international supply position. Plaster and plasterboard are on extended delivery but the position should improve in the new year if production continues at the present level. I shall be keeping in close touch with the manufacturers and distributors.