MR. A. DAVIES (Clitheroe)asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether Lieut.-Colonel Lyddon, inspector of steel at Sheffield, has now been instructed by the Director of Building Materials Supply to take over the inspection of bricks purchased by the Building Material Supply Department for housing m the North of England; whether this gentleman and his staff are 1826W now duplicating the work already done by the staff of the Director of Building Materials Supply; whether they are re-inspecting bricks already inspected and passed; what special qualifications these steel inspectors possess for judging the quality of building bricks; whether this Steel Department's functions as to the inspection of steel have now ceased; and what is the reason for this transfer of duties?
Mr. HOPEThe section engaged in the inspection of building materials has recently been amalgamated with the general inspection Department of the Ministry under the Director-General of Inspection. This has been done with a view to economy and efficient administration. There is no duplication of the work previously done by the staff of the Director of the Building Materials Supply. Lieut.-Colonel Lyddon is head of the whole inspecting staff in the northern area. No steel inspector is engaged on the inspection of building materials who is not fully qualified to do so as a civil engineer.