HC Deb 24 April 1941 vol 371 cc251-2
40. Mr. Salt

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether his attention has been called to the fact that the membership of the Consultative Panel of experts who are to be asked by his Department to advise on plans for post-war reconstruction of Britain, comprises no less than five architects, but not a single qualified structural engineer; and, as structural engineers are the principal experts regarding steel-frame buildings, and much construction activity essential to modern civilisation needs expert guidance from this aspect, he will arrange to rectify this deficiency at the earliest opportunity?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings (Mr. Hicks)

In issuing the invitations for the Consultative Panel, my Noble Friend has had first in mind the preparatory work on planning necessary to govern the various forms of re-development after the war. For this purpose the close association of a structural engineer through membership of the Panel is not regarded as essential.