HC Deb 25 April 1966 vol 727 cc331-2
5. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what steps he is taking to encourage speedier industrial development work in order to reduce the time lag between the completion of research and its application on a large scale in the building and construction industries.

Mr. Boyden

The Building Research Station, the National Building Agency and development groups in this and other Ministries are all promoting research in this field and are publicising the results. The recently established Agrément Board has a similar function for materials and components. The Ministry is working on development projects worth £22 million.

Mrs. Short

Is my hon. Friend aware that it takes 15 to 20 years before the results of building research are applied in the building industry, and is this not far too long? Will he consider awarding development projects for industrial developments to nationalised industries and private enterprise to speed this up?

Mr. Boyden

In answer to the first part of that question, one of the great difficulties in the building industry is getting information about such matters as dampness into the hands of the people who do the work. My right hon. Friend is hoping that a new information and research body will shortly get under way and will make a big impact in this sphere.