§ 14. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Public Building and Works how the work of the Agrément Board is progressing.
§ Mr. LoughlinThe board has made good progress in increasing the rate at which agrément certificates are issued: three in 1967, 30 in 1969. I hope that designers will, as a matter of course, specify certificated new products in preference to un-certificated ones, and that manufacturers will recognise the acquisition of an agrément certificate to be an essential part of the promotion of a new product.
§ Mr. BoydenI congratulate my hon. Friend on the progress of the board. Has it not helped to increase the efficiency and productivity of the building industry, which the party opposite does not recognise, and has it not also helped to increase exports of building materials?
§ Mr. LoughlinAny system of testing of materials and component parts is bound to improve our chances in the export market. But I think that it goes further. If we can get an increase in the number of applications for testings from manufacturers and can usefully complete 100 a year, I think it would improve the design and the construction of buildings in the future.