asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what encouragement he is giving to research into the design and production of bricks;(2) what encouragement he is giving to the installation of tunnel-type brick making factories to replace the old-fashioned kiln process.

This Department and the Departments of Industry and Energy will pursue with the brick manufacturers the recommendations in the energy audit report on the building brick industry and the recent report on "Energy use in the bricks, fireclay and refractory goods industry" and will make sure they are aware of the Government assistance which might be available to them.