§ Dr. Phippsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the possibility of large-scale redundancies in the civil engineering industry in the second half of 1974, resulting from the cutting back of public works schemes announced by the previous Government in December 1973, if he will take steps to reverse this policy in total or in part.
§ Mr. FreesonI very much regret any redundancies that may result from the cuts made in public works programmes in December 1973. As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in his Budget Statement on 26th March, it is not possible at this time to provide for a net increase in major public works programmes other than housing.