HC Deb 19 March 1963 vol 674 cc194-5
22. Mr. G. Wilson

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science why the new laboratories now being built for the Road Research Station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research are below the standards commonly accepted for Government laboratories.

Mr. Denzil Freeth

There are no generally applicable standards laid down for the construction of Government laboratories, which have to be designed individually to suit their respective purposes. I am satisfied that the proposed new Road Research Laboratory will provide adequate accommodation for the effective conduct of road research.

Mr. Wilson

In view of the considerable criticism of this project which has appeared in the Press, will my hon. Friend give publicity to that Answer?

Mr. Freeth

I have read it in the House.

Mr. Crossman

The Parliamentary Secretary received a formal deputation from the Institution of Professional Civil Servants which did not express itself as satisfied. Is he aware, for instance, that the Institution suggested to him that 40 per cent. of the office space was below the minimum accommodation in Government offices, that 140 laboratories had ceilings so low that they could not have equipment put in them, that there was no room for a computer and no room for a conference hall? Is that the Parliamentary Secretary's usual standard for a new research laboratory?

Mr. Freeth

In fact the Institution wrote to my noble Friend. It did not see him. With regard to the three points mentioned by the hon. Gentleman, I do not accept that a worker who works part of his time in a laboratory and part writing up his notes in an office requires the same standards of office accommodation as an executive officer in Whitehall. With regard to the computer, the present computer we intend to keep at the Radio Research Station but when the Road Research Laboratory gets its own computer there will have to be additional housing. I admit that at the moment a conference hall is not included within the plans, but these are not the final plans for the complete laboratory as it will be at the end of the day.

Mr. Crossman

Did I understand the Parliamentary Secretary aright that, if one spends half one's day in a place, the accommodation should be only half as adequate?

Mr. Freeth

No. If the hon. Gentleman reads my Answer he will see that he did not get the point.