§ 26. Mr. Urwinasked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will make a statement of the progress of the committee set up in 1965 to examine the deployment of labour in building maintenance.
§ Mr. BoydenThe Commttee has met five times. Studies have been started on the effect of design on building maintenance, the efficiency with which maintenance work is being carried out, and the performance of materials and components. Good progress is being made, and the Committee's reports have been well received
§ Mr. BoydenThere will not be a final report but a series of reports on particular aspects of the subject. We hope that these matters will be considered by those concerned with maintenance and taken into account by the industry.
§ Mr. CostainWhat co-ordination takes place between this Committee and those designing new buildings with the idea of cutting down maintenance?
§ Mr. BoydenOne of them is concerned with this particular problem of design and its bearing on maintenance, but co-ordination with the main committee is very close on all aspects of the subject.
§ Mr. LubbockWill the hon. Gentleman publish the reports which are available to local authorities showing how the various industrialised systems of building compare with the traditional system as regards the maintenance which is subsequently necessary on each of them?
§ Mr. BoydenI will take note of that remark.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkWhile I welcome the Committee and the progress which it has made, would not the hon. Gentleman say that the present policy of refunding direct labour operatives is unfair to private contractors? Would it not be a good thing if the Minister could say at his meeting tomorrow that he has changed his policy, because nothing would be better calculated to restore confidence?
§ Mr. BoydenAs I said in answer to a previous Question, S.E.T. seems to have very little bearing on the operations of local authorities.