§ 7. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Minister of Public Building and Works what progress is being made in developing building methods to facilitate continuous building in the winter months.
§ Mr. BoydenThe building industry continues to improve its methods of working through the winter. My right hon. Friend and his officials are very active in encouraging builders to take effective measures against bad weather.
§ Mr. HamiltonCan my hon. Friend say whether progress in this field has been sufficient to make a measurable im- 1094 pact on the house-building programme in the forthcoming winter? If so, can my hon. Friend give an assurance that the raw materials which will be used increasingly by these methods will be available?
§ Mr. BoydenIt is making an impact, but, of course, far too many firms do not do enough about it and what they do, they do too late. I shall be glad if my hon. Friend's Question draws attention to the need to start planning for the winter now. Many of the things which are required, such as equipment and lighting, are relatively simple and relatively cheap and make a big improvement in production.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterHas the right hon. Gentleman's Department obtained information from Canada where great progress has been made in this development against the background of a much worse winter climate than we have?
§ Mr. BoydenYes, Sir. We have collected information from all countries which have been progressive in winter building and we have found it very useful.
§ Mr. UrwinWill my hon. Friend continue to bear in mind the urgent necessity of modernising the building industry, particularly bearing in mind that thousands of building trade operatives have their standard of living reduced in winter because of their inability to work due to lack of modernisation in the industry?
§ Mr. BoydenYes, Sir. This is one of the keys to increasing productivity in the building industry.
§ 9. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Public Building and Works what technical and other means he proposes to adopt to prevent a slackening of his house-building plans during inclement winter weather.
§ Mr. BoydenThe Ministry published a guide "Winter Building" in 1963. Contractors to the Ministry are required to maintain continuity of working during bad weather.
§ Mr. HughesIs my hon. Friend aware of the miraculous progress made in Canada and other countries in the transport and use of building materials in bad weather? As his answer did not specify, 1095 as is requested in my Question, what steps he is taking, will he specify what steps he is taking to prevent slackening in house-building during a bad winter in the north-east of Scotland, particularly in Aberdeen, where the house-building achievement during the summer has been so great?
§ Mr. BoydenPerhaps the pamphlet "Winter Building" has not reached my hon. and learned Friend. If he would read it he would see that a considerable number of methods are being used. Briefly, my Ministry is giving lectures and making films and it has a Winter Building Adviser. More important than anything else, it is encouraging the use of industrialised systems, which to a large extent get over the main difficulties of traditional building in that they can be used out of the weather.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Heffer.
§ Mr. Hector HughesOn a point of order. In view of the thoroughly unsatisfactory nature—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Before the hon. and learned Member started to give that notice I had called the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Heffer).
§ Mr. HefferParticularly in view of his last remarks, will my hon. Friend indicate what efforts are being made to encourage the Jackblock system of industrialised building, which allows for the production of the building throughout the winter months?
§ Mr. BoydenThere are 400 systems, and I do not know whether that system is on the short list or on the long list. I should need notice of that question.
§ Mr. HughesMay I now say that, in view of the thoroughly unsatisfactory answer to my question and that of my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Heffer), I give notice that, with your permission, Mr. Speaker, I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.