§ Lieut.-Commander Tufnellasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether he proposes to reduce all building permits to less than the £100 now sanctioned; and whether he can make a statement on the subject?
§ Mr. HicksMy Noble Friend is proposing an extension of the licensing of civil building, which at present covers the construction, reconstruction or alteration of buildings or civil engineering works, so as to include repairs, maintenance, decoration, demolition and protection against hostile attack. He also proposes to regulate by Order the sizes and types of materials that may be used and the756W methods to be employed in the execution of building operations and the frequency of redecoration of buildings. Powers are being sought to fix by Order the amount that may be spent on building or constructional operations without authorisation or licence; my Noble Friend does not propose to reduce at present the amount that may be spent on a building in one year without a licence below the existing limit of £100.