§ 18. Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Public Building and Works what further representations his Department is making to the Phelps Brown inquiry into labour-only subcontracting.
§ Mr. MellishMy Department has given factual evidence to the Committee.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsDid not the Minister's own Department give a report on the census of employment in 1967 which showed an increase in the number of self-employed units, and does not he agree that the rise in the S.E.T. will increase the amount of self-employed groups working within the industry? Is not this a bad thing? Will the right hon. Gentleman comment on that?
§ Mr. MellishThe hon. Gentleman asked me what representations I had made to the Phelps Brown Committee. I have not tried to influence this Committee's findings. Its terms of reference are very broad. This is not a question of labour-only subcontracting, important though that is—I understand that—but the Committee will cover all aspects of the engagement and use of labour in the construction industry. It is a wide-ranging Committee.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkMy hon. Friend's Question was perfectly reasonable. If there has been an increase in the S.E.T., ought there not to be an increase in representations?
§ Mr. MellishI do not think so. I am sure that Mr. Phelps Brown is fully aware of the effects of the S.E.T. If he does not know by now, I shall be very surprised.