HC Deb 04 March 1958 vol 583 cc942-3
6. Dr. Stross

asked the Minister of Works the size of the labour force employed in Stoke-on-Trent on all forms of building contracts in July, 1956, and at the last available date.

Mr. Molson

The statistics collected by my Department from the building and civil engineering industries do not show the size of the labour force actually employed in any particular area.

Dr. Stross

Nonetheless, does not the right hon. Gentleman know that there has been a dramatic and very unhappy diminution? Can he tell the House whether in his opinion this has been due substantially to the fact that only about 200 houses for rental are being built by the local authority as compared with 2,000 two years ago, or whether it is due to a general diminution in contracts for building of all types? If it is due mainly to the former reason, will he discuss the matter with his right hon. hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and point out some of the effects of his policy?

Mr. Nabarro

These supplementary questions are much too long.

Mr. Molson

The increase which has taken place in the number of unemployed in the building industry is largely due to the reduced housing programme of the County Borough of Stoke. I believe that the hon. Gentleman has been in correspondence with the Minister of Housing and Local Government on this subject.