Quarries which could be used for producing slate are standing under-utilised at a time of national emergency, claims building expert Sanders Frith-Brown.

Mr. Frith-Brown said he has given away 100 slate blocks from his Warwick quarry since announcing a generous offer to those in need last week.

But he has been advocating a more proactive approach by Government and the Emergency Measures Organisation (EMO) to ensure that the Island does not face another massive shortage of slate - needed to repair damaged roofs - in future storms.

Last week Mr. Frith-Brown offered free slate blocks - which needs to be cut - provided the slate produced from them was not sold at exorbitant prices.

"I've had many calls - at least 50 in the last eight days," he said last week. "And at least 25 people have stopped me in Hamilton a number of them thinking I had slate on offer not slate block. I've given away probably 100 slate block which should produce perhaps 800 slates which is a small amount."

Mr. Frith-Brown estimated that a 200 square foot house uses about 3,000 slates depending on the complexity of the roof.

He said he was concerned about the slate shortage because it could have been avoided and had met with his MP, George Scott, to discuss his concerns.

A number of quarries on the Island are either being under-utilised or not being utilised at all, he said.

And there is an acute shortage of slate cutting machines and slate block cutting machines on the Island. None of the owners of quarries he said were unnecessarily idle were unavailable for comment.

"Handsaws are being used to cut the block - nobody is bringing their slate cutting machines," Mr. Frith Brown said of recent activity at his quarry.

Mr. Frith Brown estimates that there are only about four slate cutting machines in working order on the Island which would probably not cut more than 1,000 slate a day.

Yet one in 20 houses, or about 2,000 houses, have roof damage from Hurricane Fabian and the total need is likely close to 600,000 slates, he guessed. He advocated that the EMO playing a key role in ensuring the availability of slate and slate-cutting machines during national emergencies in future. "When I did my emergency quarrying in `87 (after Hurricane Emily) with John Cumberbatch they had prisoners working on day release (ten prisoners) for about six weeks," he said. "And extra quarrying machines were brought in."

Mr. Scott, a ruling party MP, agreed last week with the suggestion that the EMO could be more proactive in future.

"It all just comes down to organising and planning," he said.

The slate shortage is expected to be alleviated by a large shipment which arrived last week.