Building and Construction Industries (Capacity) (Hansard, 30 January 1967)

§ 11. Mr. Blaker
asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what studies he has sponsored into the capacity of the building and construction industries.

§ Mr. Prentice
My Department has commissioned a study at the University of Manchester into the factors affecting growth and efficiency in the building industry. We are also seeking to negotiate a joint study by the University of Manchester and the University of Liverpool into the effect of variations in building resources on building firms and projects in the Manchester and Merseyside areas.

§ Mr. Blaker
In view of the importance of this matter, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman to give an assurance that the Manchester University study will be published? Is he satisfied that there will be adequate liaison between those engaged on that study and the Walters Committee on Computers?

§ Mr. Prentice
Yes, Sir. I would expect that the results of both studies will be published. As for liaison, it is the task of the Directorate General of Research and Development in my Ministry to co-ordinate such research. Mr. Walters is, in fact, the Deputy Director General and it is reasonable to say that the work on computers is being correlated to these other studies.

§ Mr. More
Would not the capacity of the industry increase if the Government ceased to give support for direct labour being used in the building industry?

§ Mr. Prentice
I believe that there is room for both private and public enterprise building, providing they are efficient.

§ Mr. Chichester-Clark
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we attach great importance to these two studies? Is he satisfied that enough attention is being paid to the need to increase productivity in the vital maintenance sector?

§ Mr. Prentice
The Parliamentary Secretary is, in fact, the chairman of a group which has the task of co-ordinating a number of maintenance studies so as to achieve efficiency. However, I am not satisfied that maintenance is being carried out as efficiently as it should be. It occupies about 40 per cent. of building operatives and I agree that not enough study was given in the past to the efficiency of this sector. However, it is something to which we are giving a great deal of study at the moment.