HC Deb 15 July 1969 vol 787 cc379-80
3. Mr. Waddington

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will make a statement on the productivity of the construction industry since the suspension of building controls.

Mr. John Silkin

Between the fourth quarter of 1968 and the first quarter of 1969 productivity on all new work fell by about 5 per cent.

Mr. Waddington

Do not these figures reveal that the industry has suffered a setback in spite of the abolition of building controls? Does it not appear to suggest that building controls when in opera- tion were not serving any useful purpose and were not stopping the overheating?

Mr. Silkin

I think that the figures show demonstrably that Great Britain has a winter. A fall of about 5 per cent. is not unusual.