§ 42. Mr. Costainasked the Minister of Public Building and Works what progress he is making with the provision of assistance to the industry for winter building; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellishEquipment is now available to enable construction work to continue except under extreme conditions. My Ministry has published a great deal of information about its use and the economics of winter building; it has also held exhibitions and conferences about the subject. Investment grants are available on winter building equipment costing over £25. I am considering how to strengthen the winter building provisions in Government contracts.
§ Mr. CostainIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the President of the Board of Trade is not giving investment grants on these items and that his Parliamentary Secretary, when speaking at Bath, criticised the industry? Will the right hon. Gentleman have talks with the President of the Board of Trade to see that the grants are given?
§ Mr. MellishI am obliged to the hon. Gentleman for giving me notice of that supplementary question. I have inquired into this matter and the position is that the Board of Trade will not pay grants on anything below £25. It is for the industry, therefore, to recalculate the way in which it obtains these investment grants.