§ 42. Mr. Viggersasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has had consultations with representatives of the building and construction industry employers regarding the nationalisation of the building industry.
§ Mr. ShoreI have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Members for Romford (Mr. Neubert) and Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle) earlier today.
§ 53. Mr. Peter Millsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further action he has taken to assist the building industry of the south-west of England, following the recent letter to the Prime 647W Minister on 28th February signed by Devon hon. Members.
§ Mr. ShoreThe suggestions made by right hon. and hon. Members in their letter of 28th February for additional building work depend in the first instance on an assessment by the relevant authorities of the needs in their areas. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science is currently considering bids from Devon and other areas for school, higher and further education building projects in 1979–80 and 1980–81; and I understand that the South-West Regional Health Authority is planning a further phase of the Derriford hospital with a view to starting work in the early 1980s.
§ 55. Mr. Tim Rentonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received in response to Government proposals to nationalise the building industry.
§ Mr. ShoreMy right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and I have received copies of a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit from the Campaign Against Building Industry Nationalisation. For the most part this report does not address itself to matters of Government policy and no useful purpose would be served by commenting on its conclusions.