PUBLIC EXPENDITURE AND EMPLOYMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

That this House deplores the loss of private sector construction jobs as a result of cuts in public expenditure including the Building Schools for the Future programme; notes the North East Chamber for Commerce's findings that this will hit the North East region the hardest and cost the area an estimated 17,000 construction jobs; further notes that every 1 million of public sector infrastructure expenditure creates 20 construction jobs; and calls on the Government to continue investment in infrastructure.