§ Q3. Mr. Dalyellasked the Prime Minister what he is doing to co-ordinate the activities of the Scottish Office, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and the Ministry of Public Building and Works to make case studies of condensation and dampness in recently completed houses, with a view to easing the difficulties of tenants faced with problems of rotting furniture, peeling wallpaper, mildewed clothes, and unhealthy bedrooms.
§ The Prime MinisterThe three Departments and the Building Research Station are already considering how best to make available further information and experience on the causes, remedies and prevention of condensation in buildings.
§ Mr. DalyellIs it recognised that in conditions of high humidity this winter many thousands of families faced conditions which can only he described as slum conditions on account of dampness, and will the Prime Minister start a drive to improve the quality of building, to speed up the way in which local authorities attend to repairs and, finally, to help tenants understand the simple physics of dampness?
§ The Prime MinisterAs my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works explained to my hon. Friend the Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) last month, the Departments concerned are looking at information they have had from the Building Research Station about the problem and at some of the things to be done with new building. There is also, of course, the very serious problem of condensation in our older houses, and there seems to be need for research as to deliquescent substances which are needed to absorb some of the excess humidity.