HC Deb 24 July 1957 vol 574 cc51-2W
65. Mr. G. Brown

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what evidence he has that a shortage of road designers is a limiting factor in the present rate of road construction; and what discussions he has had or proposes to have with the Association of Consulting Engineers before inviting foreign road designers to undertake this work.

Mr. Watkinson

There is a general shortage of qualified civil engineers in this country, and I know that highway authorities and consulting engineers find difficulty in recruiting staff in sufficient numbers to undertake work as quickly as the timetable of my road programme requires. The difficulty is not one of lack of skill and knowledge on the part of our civil engineers, but of shortage of manpower.

The Association of Consulting Engineers has given me assurances of the willingness and ability of its members to help, and I should certainly not consider bringing in foreign designers without first considering all possible means of fully employing our own resources.