HC Deb 31 January 1966 vol 723 cc656-7
3. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what steps he is taking to ensure that the Building Regulations can be easily and rapidly amended where such amendment is justified.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Public Building and Works (Mr. James Boyden)

Before making Regulations, or amendments to them, my right hon. Friend is required by Section 9 of the Public Health Act, 1961, to consult interested bodies and the Building Regulations Advisory Committee.

These consultations must inevitably take some time, but the new arrangements will permit much more rapid amendment than was possible under the local building byelaws which the new Regulations replace.

Mrs. Short

In thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I point out to him that local authorities are experiencing difficulty in interpretation? Will he consider the issuing of explanatory memoranda?

Mr. Boyden

That has already been done.

Mr. Chichester-Clark

As the Minister was able to make certain minor amendments on 23rd December to those coming in on 1st February, does he not accept that it should be easy to speed this up quite considerably?

Mr. Boyden

My right hon. Friend has taken steps to ensure that that happens.

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