§ 11.28 a.m.
§ Lord MELCHETT rose to move, That the draft Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, laid before the House on 11th May, be approved. The noble Lord said: My Lords, this order will widen the scope and purposes for which building regulations may be made 1051 in Northern Ireland. At present, building regulations are made under the powers available in the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 1972.
§ Since 1972, powers in England and Wales and in Scotland have been considerably extended under the provisions of Part III of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The provisions of this order are designed to take account of the new powers introduced in the rest of the United Kingdom in 1974 and to bring Northern Ireland enabling powers into line. This is the order which I mentioned a moment ago when introducing the Health and Safety at Work Order.
§ The most far-reaching change is a general widening of the scope and purposes for which building regulations may be made. At present, regulations may be made to secure the health, safety and convenience of people in or about buildings, but the order will make it possible for regulations also to take account of the welfare of people, and the conservation of fuel and power. The introduction of the word "welfare" could for example enable building regulations to cater specifically for the needs of the disabled. "The conservation of fuel and power" would enable building regulations to prescribe thermal insulation standards above what would be the minimum considered necessary to safeguard the health of the occupants of buildings.
§ The enabling powers contained in the order are designed to keep the regulations streamlined and to ensure that we have a system of building control in keeping with, and responsive to, contemporary building techniques and materials. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the draft Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, laid before the House on 11th May, be approved.—(Lord Melchett.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.