§ Sir J. Edenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what he expects to be the effect on employment in private sector building and construction companies of any expansion in the direct labour of local authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ArmstrongLocal authority direct labour organisations currently undertake only some 2 per cent. of new construction works. The nature of any expansion would depend on the extent to which authorities availed themselves of their powers and on the impact of arrangements for ensuring efficiency, but I should not expect any rapid increase in the direct labour workload, or any substantial effect on employment in the private sector.