HC Deb 15 July 1969 vol 787 cc385-6
9. Mr. Costain

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what are his general criteria for selecting projects for study by the Building Research Station.

Mr. Loughlin

New projects at the Building Research Station must be relevant to the needs of the building user, of central or local government or of the industry. They must offer reasonable prospects of success; and the station should be demonstrably the most suitable place for them.

Mr. Costain

Does the Parliamentary Secretary agree with Mr. MacDougall's statement that the Building Research Station should operate at the bounds of knowledge? Does he appreciate that only about one-fifth of the projects undertaken by the Building Research Station have commercial possibilities?

Mr. Loughlin

The hon. Gentleman ought to be careful since the Building Research Station is doing an extremely good job of work. This is accepted by the building industry. There is a steering committee at the station on which the industry itself is represented, and if it has any objections to the projects that we have in hand it will make known its opposition. The hon. Gentleman ought to do his homework on this matter.