§ Mr. Goodhewasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will collect statistics on the number of skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled craftsmen, respectively, employed on the rehabilitation of old houses and flats as compared with employed on new building.
§ Mr. Armstrong:Collecting this information would impose an unjustified burden on contractors.
In October 1978, about 210,000 operatives were employed by contractors and public authorities on new public and private housebuilding and 185,000 on improvements, extensions, repairs and maintenance of existing housing.