asked the Minister of Works in view of the shortage of bricks for all purposes in the West Cumberland development area, whether he will consider the establishment of a brick works, controlled by his Department, seeing that there are ample clay deposits in the area.

I am always prepared to consider establishing further brickworks where additional capacity for brickmaking is required. I think, however, that the most expeditious way of meeting the requirements of West Cumberland is to assist the existing works to resume full production as rapidly as possible.

asked the Minister of Works the position, so far as the supplies of bricks are concerned for housing, covering the Millom Rural District Council, the Ennerdale Rural District Council and the Whitehaven Borough; whether his attention has been called to the fact that men are being paid off owing to the shortage of bricks; and what he is prepared to do to overcome this shortage.

There is a shortage of bricks in this area. I am prepared, with the agreement of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, to arrange to supply Belgian bricks and to send bricks from an adjoining area.