§ Mr. Costainasked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will collate and publish the long-term plans for expenditure on construction, by the various Government Departments and other public bodies, in order that the construction industry can assess the prospects for the next five years with a view to maintaining the necessary training and investment if these plans are to be met.
§ Mr. ShoreAs my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in his Budget statement, the Government have all public expenditure programmes under review in the context of the planning operation which my right hon. Friend announced last November. It would therefore be premature to publish long-term estimates for public sector construction at the present time.