Hansard

Merseyside

Volume 961: debated on Thursday 1 February 1979

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Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to reduce unemployment in the construction industry on Merseyside, in the light of the recent unemployment figures; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Golding

, pursuant to his earlier reply, gave the following information:Although unemployment in the construction industry on Merseyside is still too high, there has been a welcome improvement over the past year. The Property Services Agency is making a substantial contribution to present and future

construction employment on Merseyside through the following six large building projects. Five of these are already under construction:

  • (i) St. John's House, Bootle: work is now well advanced on this project which is expected to be completed by the end of 1979.
  • (ii) Park Lane Special Hospital: this, the fourth special hospital built for the DHSS, at Maghull, Liverpool is now one-third completed; the last phase should be ready by the end of 1982.
  • (iii) Liverpool Crown Court: this started in September 1977 and should be ready for occupation in 1982.
  • (iv) Liverpool Exchange Station Development: work is hoped to start in mid-1979 following the demolition of existing buildings and to last for 4 years.
  • (v) and (vi) Offices for DHSS at Kirkby and Park Road, Liverpool: the Park Road office is due to be completed in July 1980 and the office at Kirkby two months earlier.

    • In addition to these major schemes, PSA has a continuing programme of local office provision, maintenance and minor works.

    Further construction work will arise on Merseyside under the inner cities programme. The Liverpool inner area received £10·7 million for the financial years 1977–78 and 1978–79. It will be allocated a further £10 million a year from 1979–80 onwards under the urban programme, and it is expected that a large proportion of this will go towards capital expenditure, including, but not necessarily confined to, construction projects.