Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the production of building materials keeps up with increases in the number of house-build starts.

The general picture on material supply is one of gradual re-adjustment to the return to growth. Domestic brick production increased by 5.8% during the 12 months to October 2014 and has been augmented by an increase in imports, which is normal at this stage of the economic cycle, because of lead times in raising domestic output.

Government is in touch with the building products sector to understand and act on factors affecting building materials production. It is committed to a stable climate for business investment, which is the most important requirement for investment in building materials production.