§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to reduce unemployment in the construction industry in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Adam ButlerThe Government's awareness of the importance of the construction industry to the Northern Ireland economy is reflected in the plans for public expenditure in Northern Ireland which were announced in the public expenditure White Paper—Cmnd. 8494—published on Budget day. The levels of public expenditure now planned will mean more work and more employment for the construction industry in Northern Ireland.
The plans provide for capital expenditure on construction work totalling £290 million in 1982–83—an increase of 18 per cent. over the previous year—me in addition there will be considerable work for the construction industry generated directly and indirectly by public expenditure on maintenance and through grants and loans to the private sector.
In particular, the house building programme has been substantially increased and the finance available for housing in 1982–83 will be some £50 million higher titan previously planned.
Allocations totalling £12 million over the survey period have also been made for spending on capital projects in areas of special need, and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive is being consulted about the implementation in Northern Ireland of the proposals for increased rates of grant for home repair and improvement which have been announced for Great Britain.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many unemployed construction workers there were in Northern Ireland at the latest date; and what the comparable figures were for March 1979.
§ Mr. Adam ButlerAt the latest date for which information is available, 11 February 1982, there were 24,177 unemployed construction workers in Northern Ireland. The comparable figure for March 1979 was 15,974.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the percentage of unemployed construction workers in Northern Ireland compared with the number registered as employed in the industry; and what the figures were in March 1979.
§ Mr. Adam ButlerOn 11 February 1982, the latest date for which information is available, the percentage was 47.5 per cent. The comparable figure for March 1979 was 31.3 per cent.