HC Deb 08 June 1944 vol 400 cc1514-5
64. Mr. Bossom

asked the Minister of Health if he has calculated how long it will take after the war ends for industrialists or owners of large commercial properties, who will have to provide new premises which will cost in the neighbourhood of£100,000 to carry on their business, to obtain all the necessary legal permits enabling them to go ahead with their new construction work after they have their working drawings, etc., fully completed.

Mr. Willink

No, Sir.

Mr. Bossom

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that pre-war it usually took about a year? Will he endeavour to simplify and standardise procedure in order to avoid long delay in the post-war years?

Mr. Willink

I shall continue to endeavour to simplify procedure. In the matter of permits for housing I have already simplified it considerably.

Mr. Bossom

Will not my right hon. and learned Friend endeavour to carry the simplification to large buildings as he says he has already done to small?

65. Mr. Bossom

asked the Minister of Health if he has any estimate of the time that it normally took an architect prewar to prepare complete working drawings, specifications and have quantities taken off for a typical commercial building of the value of approximately £100,000, so that everything might be ready to let a contract for the construction of the building.

Mr. Willink

No, Sir.

Mr. Bossom

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that this usually takes about a year owing to the complications of the laws? Will he endeavour to simplify these?

Mr. Willink

As far as I am aware, it is no part of my duty to calculate how long it takes architects to prepare their drawings.

Mr. Bossom

Is my right hon. and learned Friend not aware that architects are compelled to comply with these complicated laws and therefore he has a great influence on the time they take to prepare their drawings?

Mr. Willink

I have on an earlier occasion asked my hon. Friend, as a responsible architect, to bring details to my attention.

Mr. De la Bere

There is great need for clarification.