He is a very structured person and looks at the house repairs, the cost of a new baby, and any number of practical things as perfectly good reasons for us not to go down the path of owning a business.

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The construction industry is heavily reliant on house building and repairs, along with the government's capital investment programme, particularly in water infrastructure, roads, education and health.

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Part of this money has been spent on creating conference facilities and making repairs to Landmark House, which had been empty since being built in 2000, it said.

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Until about a month ago, the family of six, with four children ages two to eight, were staying in an even smaller travel trailer while they waited for repairs on the four-bedroom house they rented.

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Following Culture questions, MPs put questions to John Thurso on the House of Commons Commission report about the need for repairs to the Parliamentary estate.

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Carpet will need to be cleaned, repairs will be needed, and fresh paint is often essential to ready the house for a good showing to potential buyers.

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