§ 4. Mr. Ridleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a circular to local authorities requesting them not to issue tender documents for contracts which seek to exclude the employment of labour-only sub-contractors by the main contractor.
§ Mr. FreesonNo, Sir.
§ Mr. RidleyWhy not? When will this Government realise that the efficiency of the building industry should come before encouragement giving the Trotskyites and Communists the power to cheat decent working people of their livings?
§ Mr. FreesonI am not sure whether I should rise to that bait or even answer the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question. But it is far from the truth to suggest that the great growth in "lump" labour which occurred a few years ago contributed to greater efficiency in the building industry.
§ Mr. RidleyBut it did.
§ Mr. SpriggsIs my right hon. Friend aware that the worst examples of jerry-building to be found in the country are in the private building sector?
§ Mr. SkinnerJohn Poulson did a few.
§ Mr. FreesonCertainly over decades past we have had experience of jerry-building which we should seek to do our best to avoid. It is not for me to say that it is operating on the same scale as was the case in past decades. I do not think that it is. But there is a need to tighten up efficiency and the quality of work in the building industry. To advocate a return to massive "lump" labour employment in the industry, as the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) does, would act against such a policy.