§ Mr. Barterasked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will now make a statement about the Report of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee.
§ Mr. RipponMy right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government and I received this Report on 31st January. I have laid it before Parliament today, and copies are available in the Vote Office.
We would like to express our appreciation to the Committee for all the work it has done in preparing its advice on the content of the first building regulations to be made under the Public Health Act, 1961. This has been a very heavy task and the members of the Committee have given most generously of their time, energy and experience. We accept this advice in principle.
It has already been announced that Ministerial responsibility for building control in England and Wales would be transferred from my right hon. Friend to myself at a convenient time after the 122W Committee had completed this task. Accordingly an Order-in-Council effecting the transfer has today been laid before Parliament to take effect from tomorrow.
I propose to make building regulations on the basis of the Committee's advice as quickly as possible. Revised draft regulations should be ready in April, and I hope to make them in the summer, to come into effect a few months later.
I am impressed by the support lent by the Committee to the view that more comprehensive legislation is needed in order to enable the control of building in England and Wales to be further rationalised. I am considering its recommendations on this matter.