§ 4. Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has had any recent discussions with leaders of the 195 construction industry, trade unions and local authorities concerning unemployment in the construction industry.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerMy right hon. Friend had a meeting recently with some of the leaders of the construction industry to discuss manpower matters. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, who is responsible for sponsorship of the construction industry, has regular contacts with all sides of the industry about employment in construction.
§ Mr. HughesWill my hon. Friend urge upon his right hon. Friends the need to restore the level of public expenditure, bearing in mind, for example, that so many of our schools, homes and hospitals, especially in Wales, are nothing more than nineteenth century monstrosities? Measures to increase public expenditure would also help reduce the high level of unemployment that has prevailed for so long.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI understand and share my hon. Friend's concern about unemployment in the construction industry. However, large extra amounts of public money have been poured into the construction industry, or into construction programmes over the past two years. Last year the Government added more than £ 800 million to public sector construction programmes, that money to be spent over the next three years. That expenditure is intended to help stabilise the industry.
§ Mr. Gwynfor EvansShould not the council house building programme be greatly accelerated to employ some thousands of the scores of thousands of unemployed construction workers? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that even in Wales about 16,000 construction workers are still unemployed?
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThe level of council house building is primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction and the local authorities. I understand that many Conservative-controlled local authorities have deliberately cut back on much needed council house building.
§ Mr. Kilroy-SilkDoes my hon. Friend agree that it is totally indefensible that there should be thousands of unemployed construction workers on Merseyside and at the same time a great and pressing 196 need in that area for more housing, schools and hospitals? Will he attempt to take some measures to match those two factors?
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI understand that the Department of the Environment and other Government Departments have identified Merseyside as an area that requires special attention. Merseyside has been the subject of extra expenditure on construction both currently and in recent years.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerDoes not the Minister regret that, with so many unemployed construction workers, the number of houses being improved is only a third of the 1973 figure?
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI hope that the right hon. Gentleman will bear in mind what I said earlier about the attitude of some Conservative-controlled local authorities.