HC Deb 25 February 1992 vol 204 c470W
Mr. McGrady

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobs he estimates to have been lost in the construction industry as a result of the moratorium placed on capital expenditure in early December 1991.

Mr. Needham

It is not possible to assess accurately the impact on jobs in the construction industry of the temporary pause in spending on new capital contracts and some maintenance works. The overall employment effects are likely to be minimal as the total volume of public expenditure has not been reduced.