HC Deb 31 July 1963 vol 682 cc101-2W
Mr. Leavey

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will publish the report of the mission which visited Canada last month under the leadership of the Director General of Research and Development in his Department.

Mr. Rippon

Copies of the mission's Report are now available in the Vote Office and will be on sale tomorrow.

The Mission recommends the erection in the United Kingdom by a Canadian Government agency of three pairs of 2-storey timber framed demonstration houses on sites in Scotland, the Midlands and the South to be followed by a second project consisting of 200 Canadian type dwellings. In both of these undertakings agencies of the Canadian Government will collaborate closely with British Authorities and the Canadian agencies will very shortly commence the necessary detailed studies. The Mission report also suggest? that the Canadian Government might arrange for Canadian construction methods, components and equipment to be displayed at building exhibitions to be held in London and Leeds this Autumn. It also recommends a visit to Canada by a group representing registered house builders, the building Trades Unions and the Building Societies.

With the agreement of my right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Housing and Local Government, I have accepted the Mission's recommendations. The Canadian Government have told me that they, too, accept the recommendations in principle, and we will now discuss their implementation.