§ Mr. Hefferasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any discussions took place with the National Joint Council for the Building Industry, or with any of the parties represented on the council, prior to the recent decision to withdraw Government support for the council's declaration of intent.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergNo. The Government reject the philosphy which aims to discrimate against self-employment, and consider that all reputable contractors seeking Government work should be treated even-handedly.
§ Mr. Hefferasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the representations that have been made to him following the recent decision to withdraw support for the declaration of intent of the National Joint Council for the Building Industry; and if he will reconsider that decision in the light of these representations.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergFollowing the announcement we received representations from the building construction and civil engineering group of the Transport and General Workers Union, and the employers side of the National Joint Council for the Building Industry, but we are not prepared to reconsider the matter.
§ Mr. Hefferasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those organisations which made representations to him prior to his decision to withdraw support for the declaration of intent of the National Joint Council for the Building Industry; what role was played within the building industry by these organisations.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergDuring the review which led up to this decision we received representations from the National Federation of Self-Employed and Small Businesses, the members of which include many small building firms.