§ Mr. Roger Whiteasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) in view of paragraphs 19, 67 and 138 of the Price and Pay Code (Cmnd. 5247), if he will give an undertaking to electrical installation contractors that the trading structure for the manufacturing industry will not be enforced on the electrical installation industry;
(2) as the electrical contracting industry is labour intensive, if the Government will consider exempting competitive tendering in the construction industry under paragraph 10 of the Price and Pay Code, in view of the similarity between this method of trading and auction sales;
(3) in view of the special circumstances of the construction industry, what steps the Government have taken to consult the various trade associations within that industry such as the Electrical Contractors Association, the Electrical Telecommunication and Plumbing Union on the likely effect the Price and Pay Code will have on their industry.
§ Mr. ChannonI have been asked to reply.
The arrangements for control of prices in the construction industry are set out in paragraph 100 of Cmnd. 5267. There would be no justification for exempting all or part of the construction industry 425W from the control. However, the special construction panel will be able to advise the Pay Board and Price Commission on how the Price and Pay Code might be applied to the special circumstances of construction. Consultations have been held with leading employers' bodies in the industry, including one of which the Electrical Contractors Association is a member. The main construction operatives' bodies have been invited to discuss the Government's proposals but have not so far taken up this offier. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment is shortly seeing both sides of the electrical contracting industry to discuss the application of Part II of the Code to the industry.