HC Deb 02 July 1973 vol 859 cc13-5
15. Mr. Nicholas Edwards

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ask the Welsh Council to investigate and report on the housing and construction industry in Wales.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

I am not aware of any report which could appropriately be submitted to the Welsh Council for its investigation. The Council does not, I understand, have any plans at present to carry out any study of this industry in Wales.

Mr. Edwards

Neither am I aware of reports. I am asking for the Welsh Council to report. Because of the acute shortage of building labour, which has already been referred to, local authorities and Government Departments are having great difficulty in getting firms to tender for desperately needed housing schemes and other construction works. Celtic Sea exploration will soon increase these pressures and there is a great need to seek ways of overcoming these difficulties, whether by further training schemes, EEC participation or other methods.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

I agree with my hon. Friend, as I said earlier in answer to another question, that there is a big problem. If he wishes to bring representatives of the councils which are under pressure to see me about the matter, I shall be happy to talk to them about it.

Mr. McBride

Is the Minister of State aware—perhaps he is not—that all matters of civil procurement of £1 million and above have to be advertised in the Journal of the EEC? What guidance has he given to those setting out tenders for contract? If he is not giving guidance to local authorities and other bodies will he tell the House and Wales why that is so? Lastly, does the hon. Gentleman agree that, figuratively speaking, the Welsh Office has been caught flat-footed in its ignorance in its approach to these matters?

Mr. Gibson-Watt

The hon. Gentleman makes a lot of claims. All I can say to him is that up to now we have not issued any specific instructions or advice to local authorities. No doubt there will be such instruction in the foreseeable future.

Mr. Gower

Will my hon. Friend, in co-operation with the Department of Employment, discuss with the employers' and employees' representatives the feasibility of expanding the training of skilled personnel in the building industry? Does he recognise that that is the main requirement in the whole of Wales at present?

Mr. Gibson-Watt

I accept what my hon. Friend says.

Mr. George Thomas

Is the Minister of State sure that he read the right answer'? Is he aware that it is only a fortnight since my hon. Friend the Member for Cardigan (Mr. Elystan Morgan) was advised by him that the Welsh Council was undertaking a study on housing and that it had been studying the position for months? Has he asked the Welsh Council to look into the reasons why this year we shall have the lowest figures for public housing in the Principality since 1946?

Mr. Gibson-Watt

The right hon. Gentleman poses a number of questions. With regard to his last question, he knows very well that it is not only the public sector which is important but also the private sector, which is doing extraordinarily well. My answer to his hon. Friend the Member for Cardigan (Mr. Elystan Morgan) about the Welsh Council was correct.