HC Deb 31 January 1966 vol 723 cc664-5
13. Mr. Urwin

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what was the increase in productivity in the construction industry in each of the four quarters of 1965; and how gross productivity for the year compares with 1964.

Mr. Boyden

There is no Productivity Index for Construction, but figures for the average output per operative, after correcting for price changes, are available for the first three-quarters of 1965. Ii was about 3 per cent higher than the average for 1964.

Mr. Urwin

While thanking my hon. Friend for his reply, I am rather disappointed that we do not have the figures for the last quarter of 1965, bearing in mind that there was an overall percentage increase in production in the industry in 1964 and a blank for the final quarter of 1964. Does not that further heavily underline the necessity for the intensification of winter building methods to maintain an increasing, continuous flow of production throughout the year?

Mr. Boyden

Indeed, yes, I cannot understand why 100 per cent. of builders do not realise that winter building pays and is in the national interest.