Mr. Robert G. HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether, when giving approval for the costs involved in building the proposed hostel in Augustine road, in the London borough of Harrow, investigations were made into the allegations by the hon. Member for Harrow, West that the figures provided by the borough were inadequate; and if he will publish the details of the responses made by his officials to the appraisal of the scheme by Kenchington, Little and Partners;
(2) what weight he gave in giving approval for the total indicative costs involved in building the proposed hostel in Augustine road, Harrow (a) to the susceptibility of a brickwork construction on the proposed site to movement and cracking, (b) to the requirement for piled foundations using a bored pile system designed for negative skin friction and (c) to the suspension of the ground floor slab or similar allowances against upward pressure; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TrippierIt was primarily the responsibility of the London borough of Harrow to satisfy itself that the cost estimates provided by Network Housing Association were adequate for the works proposed, taking into account ground conditions and all other relevant factors. Payments of Housing Association grant will normally relate to t he cost estimates approved by the Department. The report by Kenchington Little and Partners was received by the Department after the project was approved; the council's observations on it have been requested.