§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the National Federation of Building Trades Employers seeking recovery in the building industry; and what was the nature of his reply.
§ Mr. StanleyMy right hon. Friend has received a copy of a letter which the president of the National Federation of Building Trades Employers wrote to the Prime Minister on 22 July pressing for an increase in public capital expenditure on construction. A reply will be sent in due course.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the future prospects of the building industry in Great Britain in the light of the fact that 94,000 operatives left the industry in 1981; how many he estimates will return to that industry; and what assessment he has made of the number of skilled workmen among those who left the industry.
§ Sir George YoungIt is not our policy to make forward estimates of the kind requested by the hon. Member. However, there are encouraging signs of a recovery in the construction industry's fortunes. New orders for construction work during the last three months were 11 per cent. higher than a year ago, while over the same period total housing starts have increased by 42 per cent. No recent assessment has been made of the number of skilled workmen leaving the industry.