HL Deb 15 October 1973 vol 345 cc5-7

2.44 p.m.

THE EARL OF SELKIRK

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 what action they are taking to encourage or compel the use of nonflammable material in house building.

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT (BARONESS YOUNG)

My Lords, the Building Regulations 1972 made under the Public Health Acts 1936 and 1961 already restrict the use of inflammable materials in the construction of houses where this is thought necessary in the interests of safety.

THE EARL or SELKIRK

My Lords, will the noble Baroness agree that in the course of this year something like £200 million-worth of damage has been done to houses for personal and public use and an unknown amount by wet or damp rot? In those circumstances, is not some further encouragement, or possibly compulsion, necessary, to use material which is both non-flammable and which prevents wet or dry rot setting in?

BARONESS YOUNG

My Lords, the building regulations are under continuous review, and I caa assure my noble friend Lord Selkirk that there has been a complete amendment of that part which deals with structural fire precautions; it came into effect at the end of August. The kind of points which my noble friend has made are taken into account.

LORD GREENWOOD OF ROSSENDALE

My Lords, can the noble Baroness tell the House if the Government have considered whether this might be a field in which the National House Builders Registration Council have a constructive contribution to make?

BARONESS YOUNG

My Lords, I understand that when the building regulations are under review at least 160 different organisations are consulted. If the Council are not among them, I will certainly see that their name is added to the list. It is, of course, open to any organisation which wishes to make represention on this matter to do so any time.

LORD LEATHERLAND

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that the Fire Brigades Union have suggested that all new building materials should be compulsorily tested, and that the results should be transmitted to all local authorities and all Chief Fire Officers? What will the Government do about that?

BARONESS YOUNG

My Lords, if the noble Lord has plastics in mind when he refers to new materials. I would say that these are already subject to building regulations.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, am I to understand from what the noble Baroness has said that builders have been instructed not to use the material which was used in the Isle of Man concert hall, where something like 200 people were killed?

BARONESS YOUNG

My Lords, I do not think it would be appropriate for me to comment on the terrible tragedy at Summerland, which I understand is now the subject of a public inquiry.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

But am I to understand that the material, which everybody agrees was inflammable, has now been prohibited for use in public buildings?

BARONESS YOUNG

My Lords, I cannot comment on anything which is connected with that disaster. I said in my previous answer that plastic materials are the subject of building regulations.

LORD AVEBURY

My Lords, while not wishing to comment on the particular case to which the noble Baroness has referred, does the Minister not consider that it would be in the interests of the people of the Isle of Man if the building regulations in force in that part of the United Kingdom conformed to those in the rest of the British Isles?

BARONESS YOUNG

My Lords, I think that is rather wide of the Question. As the noble Lord will know, the building regulations to which I have referred apply to England and Wales, but do not apply to the Isle of Man.