Construction union UCATT have renewed their call for greater investment in construction after the latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures showed a further significant fall in output for the industry.

Provisional GDP figures show that the economy grew by 0.3% in the 1st quarter of 2013, however construction fell by a further 2.5%. Since the beginning of 2012 the construction industry has declined by 5.9%.

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Steve Murphy, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "The Government's austerity policies are starving construction of funding. Construction should be the main driver in returning the economy to financial health. Instead due to a lack of investment it is acting as a handbrake to growth."

Mr Murphy added: "The Government is the construction industry's largest client, investment in social housing, schools, hospitals and major infrastructure projects is vitally needed. The Government must invest in these sectors to help the construction industry get off its knees and get skilled workers back to work."

(CD/MH)