§ Sir R. Gowerasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been 2284W called to the fact that in the United States of America the controlled temperature for government offices has been fixed at 68 degrees Fahrenheit as against 60 degrees Fahrenheit for Government offices in Great Britain; and whether, before finally deciding upon the lower figure for this country for the forthcoming winter, he will carry out further investigations into the efficiency of sedentary workers working under such conditions?
§ Mr. E. BrownMy attention had not previously been drawn to the fixing of a controlled temperature for Government offices in America, but 60 degrees is commonly regarded by informed opinion in this country as a reasonable standard. I am not aware of any evidence of loss of efficiency during last winter due to the instructions on the subject issued by my Noble Friend the then Minister of Works and Buildings and I see no necessity for further investigations pending the putting into force of similar instructions for the coming winter.