HL Deb 16 July 1996 vol 574 cc59-60WA
Lord Howie of Troon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they have made to the Scottish Building Standards Advisory Committee to secure further harmonisation of Scottish building standards with regulations for England and Wales, especially with regard to fire safety, and what evidence is there to prove their greater effectiveness in fire safety.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office (The Earl of Lindsay)

The harmonisation of the technical requirements in the Scottish building standards and the building regulations for England and Wales is proceeding, as parts of the regulations are updated, and where judged appropriate, given the different legal backgrounds, compliance checking systems, existing circumstances and traditions in construction. Close rapport is maintained between officials from England and Wales and from Scotland during the revision of both sets of regulations. In Scotland the Building Standards Advisory Committee recently recommended the adoption of amended standards dealing with fire safety, which will include further harmonised requirements and which, with other amendments, are expected to come into force next year.