§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will bring up to date the table of staffing of the Building Research Establishment given in the reply by the hon. Member for Ealing, Acton (Sir G. Young) on 11 June 1984; what is the current shortfall of staff in post compared with the authorised complement (a) overall and (b) in the science category; and what is the proposed complement for 1987–88.
§ Mr. John PattenThe manpower allocation for the Building Research Establishment was 771 for 1 April 1986. There were 755 staff in post on 1 April 1986. On that date there were(a) overall 16 fewer staff than allowed for in the complement and (b) in the science category six fewer staff than in the complement.
The manpower allocation for the Building Research Establishment is 751 for 1 April 1987. There were 742½ staff in post on 1 December 1986. On that date there were (a) overall eight and a half less staff than allowed for in the 1 April 1987 allocation and (b) in the science category five and a half more staff. The detailed figures are in the table.
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Building Research Establishment Complement 1 April 1987 Staff in Post 1 December 1986 Science category Grade 3 1 1
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Complement 1 April Staff in Post 1 December 1986 Grade 4 1 1 Grade 5 4 5 Grade 6 16 18 Grade 7 60 61 SSO 90 96 HSO 105 96½ SO 74 71 ASO 22 29 373 378½ Research officers SRO 1 1 Professional and technology category Supt. Eng. (Grade 6) 1 1 Supt. Architect (Grade 6) 1 1 Grade 7 10 9 SPTO 20 16½ HPTO 12 13 PTO 18 18 62 58½ Administration group Grade 6 1 — Grade 7 2 2 SEO 2 2 HEO 5 5 EO 18 18 CO 62 54½ CA — 5½ 90 87 Information officers Senior Information Officers 1 1 Information Officers 4 4 Assistant Information Officers 1 1 6 6 Librarian 1 — Assistant Librarian 1 1 2 1 Graphics Officers Graphics Officer III 1 1 Graphics Officer IV 2 1 Technical Grade I 4 5½ Tracer — ½ 7 8 Personal Secretaries and Typists Senior Personal Secretary 1 1 Personal Secretary 18 18½ Typing Manager 4 3 Typists 15 14 38 36½ Photographers Chief Photographer 1 1 Principal Photographer 4 3 Senior Photographer 5 4 10 8 Other Grades Assistant Chief Photoprinter 1 1 Photoprinter I 3 2 Photoprinter II 3 4 Senior Data Processor 3 4 Data Processor 2 2½
Complement 1 April 1987 Staff in Post 1 December 1986 Senior Messenger 2 2 Messenger 3 4½ Telephonists 5 5 22 25 Total: Non industrial 615 609½ Total: Industrial 140 133 Total: All grades 751 742½
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the current level of morale, performance and scientific output at the Building Research Establishment; and what proposals he has for the long-term future of this organisation.
§ Mr. John PattenThe performance and scientific output, which are the best measures of morale at the Building Research Establishment, remain high (in quality and content), as can be judged from the recent annual report (1985–86), a copy of which has been placed in the House of Commons Library. The establishment has been the subject of a recent study by Sir Henry Chilver and Sir Peter Harrop, which is being considered.
§ Mr. Barronasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the Building Research Establishment to complete the investigation into the Reema type of prefabricated reinforced concrete houses.
§ Mr. John Patten[pursuant to his reply, 14 January 1987]: The Building Research Establishment's report on Reema hollow panel system houses (now designated under the housing defects legislation) was published in December 1984, and a copy is in the Library. The BRE's investigations of later, different forms of Reema construction will be covered in its report on large panel buildings generally, likely to be available early this summer.