§ Mr. Rookerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the contribution of the construction industry to the economy in respect of gross domestic product, employment, exports and tax revenue, including building materials producers where appropriate; and how the position compares with five and 10 years previously.
§ Mr. Peter Rees[pursuant to his reply, 9 January 1985, c. 487]: The following table gives the figures requested in terms of the percentage contribution of the construction industry (and, where this information is available, building materials producers) to the relevant totals.
1973 per cent. 1978 per cent. 1983 per cent. Gross Domestic Product at factor cost, income based, (includes building materials producers) 13 11 10 Employment (construction only) 5.8 5.3 4.8 Exports (building materials producers only) n.a. 3 2 (1971–72) (1976–77) (1981–82) Tax revenue n.a. 6.3 4.8