§ Mr. Edward DaveyTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the number of new employees needed in the housing sector over the next five years to meet Government targets on new house building in London and the South East; and if he will make a statement. [86905]
§ Mr. McNultyThe Government has made no specific assessment for new house building in London and the South East. However, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has estimated that 76,000 new employees will be required each year in the construction industry between 2002 and 2006 and the Strategic Forum for Construction estimates that 300,000 qualified staff will need to be recruited to the construction industry by the end of 2006. CITB predicts that over 40,000 new recruits will be needed between now and 2006 in the Greater London area and that over 77,000 will be required in the South East.
However, these figures are based on moderate growth levels in the construction industry. They do not take into account the step change in housing and regeneration activity that the Deputy Prime Minister will outline early in the New Year. In 2003 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister aims to produce an analysis of the impact on the industry of the level of construction work generated by the planned step change in housing investment.
We will continue to work with the Department of Trade and Industry and Department for Education and Skills to ensure that there is sufficient capacity and the right skills in the construction industry to meet the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's ambitious targets.