§ Mr. Boydenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he 449W is taking to arrest the trend in the construction industry to grow in the 1970's at half the rate attained in the 1960's as forecast by the Economic Development Councils for building and civil engineering.
§ Mr. AmeryI expect construction's rate of growth during the rest of the 1970's to benefit from the Government's policies for the economy generally.
§ Mr. Boydenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment in view of the cash flow problems of the building industry, if he will take steps to ensure that local authorities pay their contractors' bills promptly.
§ Mr. AmeryLocal authorities were reminded as recently as 21st December, 1970—in Circular 8/70—about the need to settle accounts quickly.
§ Mr. Boydenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the amount of money outstanding to the building industry for completed contracts.
§ Mr. Boydenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much building costs have risen since 1st July, 1970.
§ Mr. AmeryBuilding costs, as measured by my Department's "Index of the Cost of New Construction", increased by l½ per cent. between 1st July, 1970, and 30th September, 1970. No later figure is yet available.