§ Sir John Rodgersasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the accumulation of stocks at brickworks which is affecting their financial viability, whether he will make proposals to give them special assistance until the stocks are once more in demand.
§ Mr. FreesonThe Government have given priority to measures to improve the rate of housebuilding and I would refer the hon. Member to the various initiatives on private sector housebuilding announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mrs. Taylor) on 27th January.—[Vol. 885, c.43–44.] Brickmakers should also get some help from the measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his November Budget to help the company sector, in particular from the concession on the taxation of increased stock values.