HL Deb 07 December 1961 vol 236 cc168-70
LORD BOSSOM

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there exists in England any official body or agency that collects for the benefit of the nation, and for the British construction industry in particular, all the latest information in the world concerning inventions, new materials, processes of construction, or forms of building organisation, which have proved successful elsewhere and which enable buildings to be constructed quicker, better and cheaper than is customary in England, and, if such an agency does exist, from whom this collected information can be obtained.]

THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL AND MINISTER FOR SCIENCE (VISCOUNT HAILSHAM)

My Lords, the Building Research Station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research follows closely developments overseas, particularly those that seem promising for adoption in this country. Significant information is published either as a special report or in the technical press.

LORD BOSSOM

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that Answer, may I ask whether he is not aware that the cost of building influences the cost of everything we have to export; and as there is more information of advantage to us than we are using, would it not he worthwhile looking into this to see whether something could be done?

VISCOUNT HAILSHAM

My Lords, I should be very grateful for any information my noble friend desires to supply to me or to the Department for which I am responsible.

LORD BOSSOM

My Lords, while again thanking my noble friend for that compliment in thinking that I have all that information, I would assure him I have not got it but I do know where it can be obtained, and I shall be glad to let him have that information. I think we are losing an opportunity in not taking advantage of the information that exists in the world.

THE DUKE OF ATHOLL

My Lords, could we be told the system of liaison between the Building Research Station and local authorities, so that when they do have new methods of construction people are allowed to build in them and do not have plans turned down for this particular reason?

VISCOUNT HAILSHAM

My Lords, I think I should need to have particulars of the case my noble friend has in mind before I could comment on it usefully. The Building Research Station is always anxious to have the closest possible relationships with builders, both in private industry and in the local authorities, and, of course, with great building Departments of State, like the Ministry of Works and Ministry of Education.

LORD BOSSOM

My Lords, may I inquire if my noble friend has information as to whether either of those bodies to which he referred are advocating modular construction? Modular construction is adopted in Canada and the United States and they are getting very considerable advantage from it.

VISCOUNT HAILSHAM

My Lords, the question of modular construction has been the subject of a great deal of intensive work by the Building Research Station. The Building Research Station is, in addition, a member of the international group studying this problem, and discussions are in progress with the British Standards Institution on the British procedure.

LORD TAYLOR

My Lords, is not a brick a module and a very satisfactory module too?

VISCOUNT HAILSHAM

I am not sure that this is what my noble friend meant.

LORD BOSSOM

My Lords, may I ask whether my noble friend is aware that there is a Modular Society in this country, of which I happen to he the President, which has demonstrated quite successfully that there are savings to be made, and these two bodies to which he has referred do not advocate it?

VISCOUNT HAILSHAM

My Lords, I am aware of the Modular Society and the distinguished position held in it by my noble friend. I am also aware that he has the misfortune to differ from some other experts on a subject on which he himself is a most distinguished expert.