HL Deb 29 June 1982 vol 432 cc149-50

2.56 p.m.

Lord Gainford

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their current estimate of the total amount likely to be spent in the construction industry in the current year.

The Earl of Avon

My Lords, it is not our policy to make forecasts of this nature. However, there are encouraging signs that construction output is beginning to recover. Total orders for new construction in the past three months were 13 per cent. higher than a year ago. Also, there has been a rise in new house-building in both the public and private sector. Housing starts for the past three months were 38 per cent. more than for the same period last year.

Lord Gainford

My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for that very encouraging answer. Can he please give a further assurance about the possibilities of recruitment to the construction industry and—particularly where British firms have contracts abroad—encouragement to adventurous unemployed to take up work overseas?

The Earl of Avon

My Lords, we hope that the various measures which the Government have taken in the field of land, planning, taxation and low-cost home ownership are encouraging just this.

Lord Shinwell

My Lords, if the Government are unable or unwilling to provide a forecast, may I ask the noble Earl whether there is a possible estimate of the amount of construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation that is urgently required in the United Kingdom and, if there is such a forecast, how does it compare with the amount required to be done? Is the noble Earl aware that, if we did all that requires to be done—and urgently requires to be done—we could provide employment for at least 1 million people?

The Earl of Avon

My Lords, in spite of the noble Lord's charming question, I do not think I want to be drawn into estimates for the future. The Government plan to spend £10.3 billion in 1982–83, which is 14 per cent. up on what was spent last year. They believe that we should invest where it will do most to stimulate even greater investment by the private sector, as exemplified by our low-cost home ownership programme, the derelict land scheme and the 11 enterprise zones.

Lord Orr-Ewing

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that the figure of £10.3 billion is the most encouraging figure that the Government have produced for a very long time? The very large number of industries which are concerned with furniture, carpeting, the painting of houses and general construction benefit all sides of industry, and this must be encouraged if we are to mop up some of the unemployed.

The Earl of Avon

My Lords, I am grateful for my noble friend's remarks.

Lord Shinwell

My Lords, I am sorry to trouble the Minister, but may I ask him a further question which is relevant? Would it not be possible for the Government to provide some estimate or forecast of the kind of work and the amount of work that requires to be undertaken, so that people in this country will know what is possible, even if it is not probable?

The Earl of Avon

My Lords, I will, of course, pursue what the noble Lord has said, with my honourable friend the Minister for Housing to make sure that he takes note of it.