§ 7. Mr. Allan Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the Building Research Establishment's report on timber frame housing to be published.
§ The Minister for Housing and Construction (Mr. Ian Gow)The report was published on 7 September.
§ Mr. RobertsI thank the Minister for publishing the report, but does he agree that it does not give timber frame housing a clean bill of health, even though some building contractors have seized upon it to try to justify the use of timber frame housing construction? Is the Minister aware that the report says that 24 further points need full investigation, which the Building Research Establishment is asking the Minister for funds to enable that to be done? Will he provide those funds? Does he agree with the statement in the report that it is too soon after the introduction of this highly insulated system of timber frame building for judgments to be made on the use of timber frame housing? Will he take action to assuage the fears of people now buying houses built with the timber frame system?
§ Mr. GowThe report refutes most convincingly some of the wild allegations made by the hon. Gentleman when he sought leave to move the Adjournment of the House on 28 June under Standing Order No. 10. The report found that timber frame housing was performing satisfactorily and that there was no evidence that there were more 272 problems or greater risks of defects due to deficiencies in design or workmanship than in traditionally constructed houses.
§ Mr. WatsonDoes my hon. Friend agree that many owners of timber frame homes have no worries at all about their structural soundness, but are nonetheless concerned that their market value may decline as a result of recent publicity? Will he therefore take every opportunity to emphasise that the timber frame method of housing construction in the vast majority of cases is a safe, sound and economical method of construction?
§ Mr. GowThat was the conclusion of the Building Research Establishment's report. It is fair to point out to the House and to those who own timber frame houses that the system of construction has been in use for many years in the United States, and notably in those parts of the United States where climatic conditions are similar to our own.