The stimulus for this important debate was my recent visit to the Carlton brickworks in Grimethorpe in my constituency. Grimethorpe is my place of birth, and I am proud to be associated with such a great place. I remember Grimethorpe in the 1970s and 1980s, when everything in the village...

The stimulus for this important debate was my recent visit to the Carlton brickworks in Grimethorpe in my constituency. Grimethorpe is my place of birth, and I am proud to be associated with such a great place. I remember Grimethorpe in the 1970s and 1980s, when everything in the village...

: I thank my hon. Friend for making those salient points. I hope that the Minister was listening because I shall certainly reinforce them later. The Carlton Bricks of this world are much smaller than the Ibstocks. The brick industry is a broad church. We want to ensure that it...

: I thank my hon. Friend for making those salient points. I hope that the Minister was listening because I shall certainly reinforce them later. The Carlton Bricks of this world are much smaller than the Ibstocks. The brick industry is a broad church. We want to ensure that it...

Ibstock village is right next to my village. We are a major construction products constituency. As my hon. Friend said, gas prices quadrupled in November from 31p to 128p per therm, and have since gone up further. Does he agree that if the Minister does not reply to this point...

Ibstock village is right next to my village. We are a major construction products constituency. As my hon. Friend said, gas prices quadrupled in November from 31p to 128p per therm, and have since gone up further. Does he agree that if the Minister does not reply to this point...

: The Minister will be aware that there were pre-existing trends in the brick industry that were not encouraging. Between 2000 and 2005, the delivered number of bricks fell by about 11 per cent. to 2.6 billion. Naturally, people who work in the industry and depend on it are especially...

: The Minister will be aware that there were pre-existing trends in the brick industry that were not encouraging. Between 2000 and 2005, the delivered number of bricks fell by about 11 per cent. to 2.6 billion. Naturally, people who work in the industry and depend on it are especially...

: It is a pleasure to speak under your chairmanship, Mr. Benton, which is benign but strict, as ever. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley, East and Mexborough (Jeff Ennis) on securing this debate. I should refer to him as the hon. Member for Grimethorpe, as he...

: It is a pleasure to speak under your chairmanship, Mr. Benton, which is benign but strict, as ever. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley, East and Mexborough (Jeff Ennis) on securing this debate. I should refer to him as the hon. Member for Grimethorpe, as he...

: My hon. Friend is right. That was the underlying theme of the opening remarks of my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley, East and Mexborough about the trends that we fact as we become a net importer of energy being compounded by the short-term problems to which I have...

: My hon. Friend is right. That was the underlying theme of the opening remarks of my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley, East and Mexborough about the trends that we fact as we become a net importer of energy being compounded by the short-term problems to which I have...

: The energy review is very important. The consultation will end midway through next month, if my memory serves me correctly. My right hon. Friend mentioned nuclear, but not coal. Does he see a future for coal as a major long-term energy provider in this country?

: The energy review is very important. The consultation will end midway through next month, if my memory serves me correctly. My right hon. Friend mentioned nuclear, but not coal. Does he see a future for coal as a major long-term energy provider in this country?

: My point was that we need to look objectively and afresh at all sources of energy to get balanced answers. I do not want to trespass outside my brief to speak for or against any of the options. I was merely encouraging hon. Friends to take seriously the objectivity...

: My point was that we need to look objectively and afresh at all sources of energy to get balanced answers. I do not want to trespass outside my brief to speak for or against any of the options. I was merely encouraging hon. Friends to take seriously the objectivity...

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the future of the brick industry.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the future of the brick industry.