The ONS figures showed that construction output declined by a further 2.4% in the 1st quarter of this year, compared to the last quarter of 2012. This is the lowest level of construction output for nearly 15 years.
The sharpest fall was in Government funded building work which fell by a further 7.5% in the 1st quarter of 2012 and is almost a fifth lower than it was a year ago. The other major sectors to show large falls were public sector housing which fell 4.1% and private sector housing which fell by 3.7%.
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Steve Murphy, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "The Government's policy of slashing public funding has reduced the construction industry to its knees. In 2010 the industry was recovering from recession and their policies have created a slump.
"The Government has been repeatedly warned it needed to change course and invest in council and social housing as well as major infrastructure projects. Its failure has meant that may skilled construction workers have lost their jobs and many have left the industry. The damage that the Government has inflicted on the construction industry will take years to repair."
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