HC Deb 16 May 1966 vol 728 cc906-7
32. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent there is a shortage of building construction workers in the west of Scotland; and what steps he is taking to recruit men for essential industry.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

At the April count in this area there were 707 notified vacancies for workers in the construction industry as against 4,637 unemployed. Any vacancies which cannot be filled immediately by the local employment exchange are circulated to neighbouring offices. For those categories where there is a shortage training is being provided at the Government training centres in the area and the number of training places is being increased from 208 to 256.

Mr. Hughes

Will the hon. Lady give us an assurance that the new advance factories will not be held up by shortage of construction labour? Is she aware that at present 1,800 construction workers, including 225 carpenters and joiners, are working at the Polaris base at the Gareloch? Does she not think that the Government have their priorities all wrong?

Mrs. Williams

My hon. Friend may be aware that not only are we increasing, as I have explained, the number of places for trained men, but also that the Construction Industry Training Board has just started its work. We hope that as a result of that work there will be far more openings for young men and women to work in the industry than at present.

Earl of Dalkeith

Is the hon. Lady aware that the Selective Employment Tax will have a severely damaging effect on the expansion of the construction industry and that this will make Scotland's housing problem, which has already been disastrously bad in the first three months of the year, even worse in the future?

Mrs. Williams

I think that the hon. Gentleman is perhaps anticipating, without giving time for the situation to develop. We on this side would want to see the facts before making up our minds.