Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department plans to take to facilitate sustainable recovery in the construction industry.

Returning the UK to sustainable and balanced growth is a key priority for Government. Construction has a central to play in that – accounting for 6.5% of GVA and employing around 3.1 million people.

We are therefore working with the industry to remove barriers to growth by improving the planning system and access to finance, and easing the burden of regulation.

On the demand side, we are stimulating the house building industry - in Autumn Statement 2013 my Rt Hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a £1bn extension of the Local Infrastructure Fund for large scale housing sites, to unlock around 250,000 homes over 6 years. We are also stimulating infrastructure development. The National Infrastructure Plan (NIP) sets a strategic vision for forthcoming infrastructure needs. It has identified a pipeline of over 500 projects costing around £250bn to 2015 and beyond.

On the supply side, we are working closely with the Construction Leadership Council to ensure that the industry is well placed to respond to growing markets, tackling issues such as skills, innovation, sustainability, productivity, efficiency and export performance.