§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to reduce unemployment in the construction industry on Merseyside; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonMy right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a package of 245W measures in his Budget Statement on 9 March which should stimulate the construction industry throughout the country.
On Merseyside, the creation of the urban development corporation and the enterprise zone at Speke will create employment opportunities in the industry. And a substantial proportion of the additional £95 million which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has made available for expenditure in inner city areas is to go to Merseyside.
Furthermore, the Merseyside task force is pressing ahead with a number of initiatives, including the refurbishing of industrial estates, which should create additional jobs, many of them in construction. Ultimately, however, employment in construction, as in other industries, will depend on the development of a sound and competitive economy which the Government's policies are designed to promote.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the number of construction workers unemployed in the Merseyside special development area at the latest date; and how these figures compare with March 1979;
(2) if he will list the numbers of unemployed in the construction industry in the special development areas in England and Wales at the latest date and the figures for March 1979.
§ Mr. AlisonIn August 1981, the latest date for which information is available, there were 17,813 registered unemployed people in the Merseyside special development area who last worked in the construction industry compared with 11,316 in February 1979. The corresponding figures for the special development areas in England and Wales were 44,680 at August 1981 and 30,671 at February 1979. A further industrial analysis of the unemployed will be made in May 1982.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many construction workers were unemployed at the most recent date for which figures are available in England and Wales; and what the comparable figures were for March 1979;
(2) how many unemployed construction workers there were in the Liverpool travel-to-work area at the latest date; and what the comparable figures were for March 1979.
§ Mr. AlisonThe following table gives the numbers of people registered as unemployed who last worked in the construction industry at August 1981, the latest date for which information is available, and February 1979. A further industrial analysis of the unemployed will be made in May 1982.
February 1979 August 1981 England and Wales 174,572 308,218 Liverpool travel-to-work area 8,071 12,241
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the percentage of unemployed construction workers in England and Wales compared with the number registered as employed in the industry at the latest date; and what the respective percentage figures were for March 1979;
(2) what is the percentage of unemployed construction workers in the Liverpool travel-to-work area compared 246W with the number of registered employees in the industry at the latest date; and what the percentages were in March 1979;
(3) what is the percentage of unemployed construction workers in the Merseyside special development area compared with the number of registered employees in the industry; and what the comparable percentages were in March 1979.
§ Mr. AlisonThe following table gives the percentage rates of unemployment in the construction industry at August 1981, the latest date for which figures are available, and at February 1979 for the areas specified. A further industrial analysis of the unemployed will be made in May 1982.
February 1979 August 1981 Per cent. Per cent. England and Wales 14.2 25.1 Liverpool travel-to-work area 30.6 46.4 Merseyside special development area 26.1 41.1
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from trade unions and employers' organisations concerning unemployment in the construction industry; and what replies he has sent.
§ Mr. AlisonMy right hon. Friend receives representations from time to time from trade unions and employers' organisations about measures to assist the construction industry. He has pointed out in reply that, within the overall constraints on public expenditure, the Government have taken a number of steps to help the industry. We have, for instance, speeded up the planning process, increased the amount of land available for development and introduced a number of tax changes, all of which have been of benefit to construction. Further measures aimed directly at stimulating the industry were announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget Statement on 9 March.
In the longer term, however, job prospects in construction, as in other industries, depend on the development of a sound and competitive economy which the Government's policies are designed to achieve.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will publish in the Official Report a breakdown of the number of unemployed in the different trades in the building industry for Merseyside and Liverpool, respectively; and if he will give comparable figures for March 1979;
(2) if he will publish in the Official Report a breakdown of the number of unemployed in the different trades in the building industry in England and Wales at the latest date together with comparable figures for March 1979.
§ Mr. AlisonI will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.