§ Mr. John Smithasked the Prime Minister how much spending he estimates will be avoided in the next six months by the new building controls.
§ Mr. PrenticeI have been asked to reply.
It is estimated that the new lower limit will bring inside the scope of building control additional contracts which in any period of six months would have a total value of about £20 million. How much of this will be refused a licence will depend on the merits of the schemes and the development of the economic situation. Because of the length of the contracts in question and other factors only a proportion of the total value of £20 million would have been spent in the first six months.