14. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will make a further statement on recommendation 6 in paragraph 35 of the Fourth Report of the Estimates Committee entitled, "The Public Building Programme in the United Kingdom."
§ Mr. MellishNo, Sir. I have nothing at present to add to the observation on this recommendation published in January in Command Paper 3886.
Mr. Gresham CookeDoes the Minister recall that this recommendation about a rolling programme for the public sector was made by Sir Anthony Part as long ago as October, 1967, when the Estimates Committee endorsed it? Why is he being so leisurely, and why is he confining it to Government office building?
§ Mr. MellishWhatever my faults, I am not the leisurely type. The Estimates Committee reported that long-term programmes raise many difficulties and we cannot expect quick answers. I accept the desirability of a stable programme of work stretching over a period and we are trying to do this in my Department. We have to co-ordinate with other Government Departments and industry.