§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the estimated value of major new works schemes to be carried out in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) abroad, which entered the design stage in the first 10 months of 1974; and what were the equivalent figures, at the same price level, for 1973.
§ Mr. KaufmanThe information is not available in this form. Information is226W collected on a four-monthly basis about the value of schemes, by and for local authorities and the Department's road construction units, entering the sketch plan stage and the working drawing stage. The latest figures on a constant price basis are as follows:
£ million (1970 prices) Value of schemes entering sketch plan stage Value of schemes entering the working drawing stage 4 months ending: 1973— April 785 710 August 635 694 December 585 614 1974 April 509 466 These figures are for Great Britain and do not include work to be done abroad.
The Royal Institute of British Architects also publishes information about the value of work by private architects entering production drawing stage; this to some extent overlaps with the above figures.
Information about new contracts obtained by United Kingdom companies for construction work abroad is collected but no information is collected about the design stage of such work.