HC Deb 07 March 1966 vol 725 cc1704-5
27. Mr. Channon

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what was the value of work obtained by the building and construction industries overseas during 1965.

Mr. Boyden

£198 million for the year ending 31st March, 1965.

Mr. Channon

Would not the hon. Gentleman concede, therefore, that the building industry make a very important export contribution not only in this way but in building for manufacturing industries on whose competitiveness we depend? Is it not rather unfortunate when we are trying to encourage exports that the building and construction industries should be excluded from the Government's new investment incentives?

Mr. Boyden

The answer to the first part of the supplementary question is, yes, Sir. But without belittling the efforts of the export side of the building industry I must point out that not all the money that the industry earns is a net export, because a lot of the money is spent abroad. However, I agree that one should encourage exports, and the builders in that year have done very well.

Mr. Lubbock

Since the new investment grants apply to manufacturing industry and not to construction, how is the industrial building section of the construction industry going to be treated?

Mr. Boyden

That was announced in the White Paper.

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