SUPPORT NEEDED FOR WELSH CONSTRUCTION SAYS WILLIAMS

9.52.20am GMT Fri 22nd Jan 2010

Roger Williams, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire and Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, has today warned that urgent action is needed to halt job losses in the Welsh and construction industry.

Results released for the third quarter of 2009 show that the number of people employed in construction in Wales has fallen by 58% since September 2006 to only 36 000.

The news puts paid to hopes of a resurgence in the industry suggested by figures for early 2009 which showed a small increase in employment in the sector, returning to 2008 levels.

Speaking today Roger Williams called on the Government to provide incentives to the industry in order to avoid a total collapse.

Roger Williams said:

"The figures released today show that the construction industry in Wales is in real need of support. If we don't act soon we will see more people loose their jobs.

"The financial crisis has meant private development companies are shying away from new building projects, while individual people are worried about spending money on their own homes by employing builders or other workers.

"The Government should urgently offer assistance to the construction sector by reducing VAT on rebuilding and repair work to 5%, providing incentives to people to renovate their homes. The Liberal Democrats have consistently said this would benefit the construction industry but it has been stubbornly rejected by the Government.

"Other moves, such as offering more home insulation grants to people who want to insulate their homes, would have a positive impact on the construction industry. Not only would this help reduce people's energy bills and carbon consumption, but it would also create a new demand for skilled professional construction workers who could fit insulation and other environmental-improvement measures.

"We need to act fast. If the Government continues to sit on the sidelines then I fear the construction industry in Wales may never recover from this dramatic loss of jobs"

NOTES:

Full details of the statistics released today can be found at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=15084