HC Deb 24 April 1967 vol 745 cc1132-3
17. Mr. Murton

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he intends to instruct his Department to present written evidence to the Phelps Brown Committee on labour-only subcontracting.

Mr. Prentice

My Department will be submitting factual evidence to the Committee on some aspects of the problem.

Mr. Murton

When the Minister submits his evidence, will he face up to the fact and realise the pernicious effects which the Selective Employment Tax is having? If he will not face up to them or does not realise them, is that the reason why this inquiry is not to be made public?

Mr. Prentice

The kind of evidence we will be giving will be factual evidence no such things as the way we arrange our own contracts. We shall not be attempting to propound solutions to the Committee. It is for the Committee to consider these. The Committee is free to examine the effects of S.E.T., among other things, if it wishes to.