§ Mr. Ernest G. Perryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet received the second annual report of the Construction Exports Advisory Board; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ShoreBoth my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and I received the CEAB Chairman's report early last month. The report gives an account of the Board's activities during 1977 and examples of where the Board was able to recommend action. I have arranged for copies of the report to be placed in the Library.
My right hon. Friend and I greatly appreciate all the good work done by the CEAB during its two years' existence in helping to create a better climate within which the construction industry might export more effectively. We have concluded that the Board has now largely completed its task and that it should be 150W disbanded. Its work will be carried forward in part by the Overseas Projects Board of the British Overseas Trade Board and in part by the National Consultative Council Working Group on Exports under the chairmanship of my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State the Member for Durham, North-West (Mr. Armstrong). I should like to pay tribute to the work of the Chairman and Board members and express by sincere thanks for all their valued advice.