§ 19. Mr. Astorasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he proposes to take to ensure that there will be no reduction in work carried out under the 1966-67 major and minor building programmes owing to increased costs of construction following the introduction of the Selective Employment Tax.
§ Mr. RedheadMy right hon. Friend expects to be able to make an announcement soon about cost limits for school building.
§ Mr. AstorDoes that mean the Secretary of State is considering increasing the present allocation, for the Ministry of Housing and Local Government says that one effect of the Selective Employment Tax will be to increase construction costs by about 2 per cent.?
§ Mr. RedheadObviously it is the practice of the Department to review cost limits whenever circumstances make it necessary to do so. In the present situation, the S.E.T. is one of the factors we are taking into account.