§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what work has been carried out for his Department to determine a severe weather trigger for warnings to the general public of possible damage from burst pipes in buildings; what has been the role of the Building Research Establishment Executive Agency in this work; and if he will make a statement. [11276]
§ Mr. KynochThe severe weather working party, which was set up by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland in January 1996, received guidance from the Building Research Establishment Scottish laboratory on the development of a tentative weather trigger for the likely freezing of pipes in loft spaces in severe conditions in Scotland. The Scottish Office subsequently commissioned BRE to develop an appropriate cold weather indicator to act as a trigger for the issue of warnings to householders and others in Scotland of imminent severe weather and of the consequent risk of freezing and bursting of water pipes. BRE reported in October 1996.