HC Deb 20 April 1964 vol 693 cc854-5
15. Sir B. Janner

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he is aware that much of the panelling on the walls of the recently rebuilt No. 10, Dawning Street would be disallowed under the new Draft Building Regulations referred to in Command Paper No. 2279; what proposals he has for the future of this panelling in the light of these regulations; and what changes he proposes to make in these draft Regulations to enable this panelling to be preserved.

Mr. Sharples

The panelling at No. 10, Downing Street is practically all original and Building Regulations drafted in accordance with the advice of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee would not apply.

Sir B. Janner

Will the hon. Gentleman look at the Building Regulations again? Is it not a fact that natural wood would have to be impregnated with certain chemicals that are so expensive as to make it absolutely impossible to use them at No. 10, Downing Street, or anywhere else? Does he not think that in the circumstances such a Regulation should never have been brought forward? Is he in a position to say that it will not be brought forward and made retrospective, so that at least No. 10, Downing street can be used in the very near future by another Government?

Mr. Sharples

No, Sir. The Regulations will not be made retrospective. I understand that natural wood can be treated to make it flame resistant. The cost is very little more than painting.

Sir B. Janner

Will the hon. Gentleman be good enough to make a statement at some time about what the cost of complying with those Regulations is likely to be? In answer to a previous Question the hon. Gentleman said that the Regulations are about to be revised. When are we likely to have a revised set of Regulations?

Mr. Sharples

The Building Regulations are being drafted at present, but in any case they would not apply to old panelling put back into a building which has been restored.

Mr. Wingfield Digby

Will my hon. Friend ensure that the Regulations encourage the use of home-grown timber, both for panelling and other purposes, rather than discourage it?

Mr. Sharples

Although I certainly support the sentiment lying behind my hon. Friend's supplementary question, it is rather wider than the panelling of No. 10, Downing Street.