§ 26. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to take action to strengthen the professional and scientific staff at the Building Research Establishment.
§ Mr. ArmstrongRecruitment at this establishment stopped during the negotiation of measures to achieve the target complement that resulted from staff cuts in the public service. It has now been resumed, and the professional and scientific staff are being strengthened, up to the new complement. Priority areas for research have been identified, and I intend to maintain adequate staff effort in those fields.
§ 39. Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment which research projects within the Building Research Establishment have been slowed down or abandoned as a result of reductions in scientific staff.
§ Mr. ArmstrongNo projects have been abandoned. Some have been slowed down, but we intend to maintain in full our level of research effort in fire safety, offshore engineering, structural integrity and support for construction exports. We have also preserved a number of other priority areas from the full effects of the cuts.