HC Deb 15 March 1965 vol 708 cc857-8
3. Mr. Gresham Cooke

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what plans he has for reducing the use of bricks in connection with the construction of new defence establishments; and what plans he has in that connection to make greater use of modern substitutes such as prefabricated panels.

35. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works to what extent he intends to use bricks in the construction of new defence establishments; and what plans he has to use modern substitutes.

The Minister of Public Building and Works (Mr. Charles Pannell)

My Department is increasingly applying new and better techniques in the construction of defence establishments. The availability of materials, including bricks, is one of the factors on which the choice of technique depends.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that this is a case in point where the Government can give a lead and set an example to the building industry to get away from traditional materials and to use modern techniques?

Mr. Pannell

We are increasingly using non-traditional materials and methods in providing housing, messes, offices, barrack blocks and schools in the Armed Forces. We are on this job all the time.

Mrs. Short

Since we have spent over £20,000 million during the last 13 years on so-called defence, does my right hon. Friend not think that we should be using scarce materials and labour on building houses for the people instead?

Mr. Pannell

Yes, but that raises other points. We are talking not about the £20,000 million on defence but about decent accommodation for the Armed Forces, to which we are prepared to give a high priority.

Mr. Ramsden

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the House an assurance that there will be no delay in the construction work in connection with the Polaris base near Holy Loch due to shortage of materials?

Mr. Pannell

I do not think that that arises on this Question. In answer to a previous supplementary question, I was informing my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Renée Short) of the need to house Service personnel. This is another question.

Mr. Urwin

Despite what the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Gresham Cooke) said about getting away from conventional building methods, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the necessity to maintain and fully capitalise the available resources of craft and skill in traditional methods in the industry?

Mr. Pannell

I recognise that the great bulk of building is done on the basis of traditional skills, but I am afraid that we will have to get away from them and bring in industrialised and unorthodox methods if we are to master the load on the building industry.