HC Deb 19 November 1963 vol 684 cc781-2
9. Mr. Boyden

asked the Chief Secretary to the Treasury what steps he is taking to enable the Building Research Station to promote, more effectively, progressive ideas in building.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The Building Research Station devotes about 20 per cent, of its effort to promoting the wider adoption of research results in building design and construction. The total resources available to the Station are to be further increased next year by 6 per cent. This increase will be mainly applied to operational and economic aspects of its work the results of which should be of immediate value to the building industry.

Mr. Boyden

Are there not severe difficulties in getting the new ideas into the building industry? Will the right hon. Gentleman consider something similar to the National Agricultural Advisory Service, with officers working in the field and spreading new ideas in that way?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I am inclined to agree with the hon. Gentleman that there has been a time-lag in the passing of new ideas through the industry, but I think that the new Directorate of Public Building Research in the Ministry of PublicBuilding and Works will be able to help to close the gap.