§ 30. Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will request the committee inquiring into housing finance to publish an interim report on the measures needed to mitigate the effect on rents of sustaining the present level of council house building.
§ Mr. ArmstrongGovernment subsidies under the Housing Rents and Subsidies Act 1975 meet 66 per cent. of the approved cost of all council house building. As the housing finance review is intended to be of a comprehensive character, an interim report on the lines suggested would be inappropriate.
§ 48. Mr. Madelasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with local authorities about the use of building materials in the construction of public sector housing; whether there are any current or planned laboratory tests on any materials now in use; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ArmstrongThere are frequent discussions between local authorities and the Department's regional offices on various aspects of housing construction, including materials, usually arising from applications for loan sanction for housing schemes. Local authorities also seek advice from the Department's Building Regulations divisions at headquarters and from the Building Research Establishment. Laboratory tests of materials form a permanent and significant part of the Building Research Establishment's research programmes.