§ 15. Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will now make a further statement on the impact on the construction industry of Selective Employment Tax in 1969.
§ Mr. MellishNo, Sir. I have made no statement on this matter, and it is much too early to do so.
§ Mr. OsbornBearing in mind that mortgages are getting more elusive, does the Minister appreciate that the tax is putting up the average cost of a house by £100 to £150 and increasing the cost to industry, which needs the work, by £120 million? Will he make representations to the Chancellor about S.E.T.?
§ Mr. MellishThe Chancellor knows the views of the industry about S.E.T., let there be no doubt about that. He is very much aware of them. In spite of S.E.T., and all that flows from it, housing output last year was the highest in the history of Britain.