§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many operatives were employed in the construction industry in the Province at the latest available date; and what was the figure for June 1979.
§ Dr. BoysonThe number of employees employed in the construction industry at June 1984, the latest available date, was 22,740; the corresponding figure for June 1979 was 37,150.
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§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to reduce unemployment in the construction industry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. BoysonFurther to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Bosworth (Mr. Butler), on 13 December 1983 at c.451 the public expenditure plans for the current year envisage over £400 million worth of work being generated in the Northern Ireland construction industry by direct public sector spending on capital projects and maintenance. In addition, Government grants and loans to the private sector are expected to give rise to a further £330 million of construction work.
These levels of public expenditure are helping to reduce unemployment in the construction industry which has fallen by almost 1,000 as compared with this time last year.