asked the Minister of Works if he will give estimates of anticipated production for each of the months of August, September and October of bricks, cement, salt glazed pipes and conduits, roofing slates and tiles, plaster and plasterboard; and by when does he anticipate the present serious shortage in building materials will be made good.

The figures of production for the latest period available are:

Item	Period.	Production.
Bricks	June, 1947	400 millions
Salt Glazed Pipes and Conduits.	June, 1947	42,000 tons
Roof Slates	May, 1947	26,000 squares
Clay and Concrete Roof Tiles	June, 1947 (Prov.).	122,000 squares
Plaster	June, 1947	15,800 tons
Plasterboard	4 weeks ended 26th July,1947.	3,048,000 sq. yards
Cement	4 weeks ended 28th July, 1947	627,000 tons

The continuance of production at this level is in all cases dependent on the availability of coal and, in the clay and slate industries, upon the availability of labour. These remain the chief limiting factors.