1. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will arrange for the National Building Agency to give advice on how to use modern methods of construction which do not necessitate the use of bricks.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Public Building and Works (Mr. James Boyden)As my right hon. Friend stated in reply to the hon. Member on 21st December, 1964, the National Building Agency does precisely this.
Mr. Gresham CookeWill the National Building Agency specialise in or concentrate on this problem, because the use of these other materials will lead to efficiency in building? How long will the shortage of bricks go on?
§ Mr. BoydenWhen advising on the most suitable techniques for a particular scheme, the National Building Agency 856 has regard to building efficiency as a whole and not the availability of any one particular material. As for the bricks situation, I cannot be a prophet, but the situation is reasonable.
§ Mr. R. W. ElliottCan the Minister say, following inquiries made in the last Parliament, whether shipyards are being used to any extent in the production of prefabricated sections?
§ Mr. BoydenSome work is going on, but I should prefer the hon. Member to put down a Question on that point.
§ 16. Mr. Mawbyasked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many local authorities have approached the National Building Agency with requests for assistance with their housing programmes; and what have been the results.
§ 36. Mr. Jacksonasked the Minister of Public Building and Works to what extent local authorities are using the National Building Agency to advise them on their housebuilding programmes; and to what extent he is encouraging them to do so.
§ Mr. BoydenI am informed that more than 150 local authorities, groups of authorities, and new town corporations have approached the National Building Agency about building methods. Many of these inquiries are still being followed up. My right hon. Friend, in conjunction with his right hon. Friend the Minister on Housing and Local Government, is strongly encouraging housing authorities to make the maximum use of the Agency's services.
§ Mr. MawbyI thank the Parliamentary Secretary for that reply, but is he aware that nowadays it is not a question of choosing either one or the other method of building but of using what is best in the traditional type of building along with the industrial form of building; and that, married together, they can probably give us the answer to the housing problem?
§ Mr. BoydenYes, Sir.