§ 2 and 3. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) what proposals he has made, following the Emmerson Report, for utilising the maximum capacity of the building industry in those areas where there is unemployment amongst building workers;
(2) in view of the pressure on the building industry in some parts of the country resulting in the general limitation of Government expenditure on public building, what steps he is taking to increase the capacity of the building industry.
§ The Minister of Public Building and Works (Mr. Geoffrey Rippon)I will be giving consideration to these matters.
§ Mr. BoydenThat is a pretty stony answer. What comment has the right hon. Gentleman to make on the paragraph in the Emmerson Report which refers to the way in which the surge of private enterprise building has passed Scotland and my constituency by and caused twice the unemployment in the building industry in Scotland compared with England and Wales, and what constructive steps is he going to take for areas like Scotland and my constituency?
§ Mr. RipponThese are, of course, very important matters. I am studying the whole Emmerson Report, not only one paragraph of it. I frequently find it better to allow thought to precede action.