§ Mr. Thomas Coxasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to increase the number of skilled craftsmen in the building industry to facilitate the implementation of his proposals, as outlined in his White Paper "Better Homes—The Next Priorities".
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1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 £ £ £ £ County Councils Bedfordshire … … 17,514 33,175 43,286 47,172 Buckinghamshire … … 74,378 78,769 91,763 93,545 Hertfordshire … … 7,665 18,379 15,525 24,800 Huntingdon/Peterborough — — 11,716
§ Mr. ChannonThe proposals outlined in the White Paper are not in themselves expected to lead to an increase in the overall demands made upon the industry, but to a concentration of effort upon the needs of the areas of worst housing. However, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment and I have already agreed a number of short-term measures to overcome the existing shortage of skilled craftsmen. His Department is making available a substantial number of extra places under the training opportunities scheme over and above the expansion already planned. In the longer term the industry has increased and is increasing the number of apprentices and the National Joint Council for the Building Industry is considering ways of improving the apprenticeship scheme.