§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations his Department has received from trade unions in the construction industry concerning unemployment among construction workers on Merseyside.
§ Mr. GoldingMy Department has frequent formal and informal contacts with trade unions and other interested parties concerning unemployment among construction industry workers on Merseyside and elsewhere. These have chiefly concerned the effects of the public expenditure cuts on construction industry 235W employment in general and the Local Authorities (Works) Bill.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to alleviate unemployment in the construction industry on Merseyside; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoldingThe existing special employment measures, the temporary employment subsidy, the job creation programme, the youth employment subsidy and the job release scheme and the expanded training opportunities programme are available to help workers in the construction industry who are unemployed or threatened with redundancy. The prime responsibility for employment in the construction industry, of course, lies with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the percentage of unemployed construction workers on Merseyside at the latest available date; and how this figures compares with other regions;
(2) if he will publish in the Official Report details of unemployment of construction workers on Merseyside in each of the past three years to the latest available date.
§ Mr. GoldingI shall reply to my hon. Friend in a few days, when figures for February 1977 become available.