HC Deb 20 February 1967 vol 741 c193W
25. Mr. Hamling

asked the Minister of Labour when he expects to report to the House the findings of the inquiry into labour-only sub-contracts.

55. Mr. Urwin

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is yet in a position to indicate the terms of reference of the committee of inquiry set up to examine the practice of labour-only sub-contracting in the construction industry; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Gunter

The terms of reference of the inquiry which the Minister of Public Building and Works and I are setting up will beTo inquire into the engagement and use of labour in building and civil engineering with particular reference to labour-only subcontracting: and to make recommendations.

I am glad to say that Professor Phelps Brown has agreed to be chairman of the inquiry. The other members will be announced as soon as possible. This will be an important inquiry and I cannot say how soon its report will be available.

The Economic Development Committees for building and civil engineering, to whose work we would like to pay tribute, have undertaken to give their full co-operation and to make available to the inquiry relevant information from their own continuing studies over the whole field of labour problems of building and civil engineering. Although this is primarily a problem in building, the inquiry will also cover civil engineering to get the benefit of the experience of both.