HC Deb 18 February 1964 vol 689 cc995-6
2. Dr. Bray

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what arrangements exist for advising other Departments of the amount of building work which can be undertaken each quarter or each year, in each area or region, without overstraining the resources of the building industry in the area.

Mr. Rippon

My Ministry co-operates closely with other Departments in the formulation of annual and longer-term building programmes.

Closer programming depends upon obtaining more detailed information about local loads on the construction industries. With the industries' agreement, I have started to collect new statistics, which can be analysed by locality. This information will be included for the first time in the quarterly statistics due to be published in May.

Dr. Bray

Is the Minister aware that there is still no great confidence in future full employment in the building industry in certain areas of the country either during the winter or in the years ahead? Will the right hon. Gentleman treat this matter with a little greater urgency so as to ensure that areas of high unemployment particularly will get this work?

Mr. Rippon

I am not aware of the position as stated by the hon. Member.