HC Deb 26 May 1966 vol 729 cc159-60W
Mr. Luard

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what action his Department is taking to encourage the use of computers in the construction industry.

Mr. Prentice

There is an increasing recognition within the construction industry of the importance of the computer as a tool for research, design and management. Computers are already being used on a wide variety of applications and efforts are being made throughout the industry to extend the range of their use.

If the greatest benefit is to be obtained from these efforts a co-ordinated approach to the many problems involved is essential. I have appointed a standing committee under the chairmanship of Mr. R. T. Walters, C.B.E., F.R.I.B.A., M.I.Struct.E., of my Department, with the following terms of reference: To keep under review the present and potential applications of computers in the construction industry, taking account of experience and trends in other industries; to identify areas in which there is a need for co-ordination of effort; to examine the need for action to secure the wider application of existing knowledge and the promotion of further advances; and to make recommendations.

The members of the Committee will be as follows:— Professor G. Black, D I.C., B.Sc., Ph.D., F.I.P., Department of Mathematics (Computation), Manchester College of Science and Technology. Mr. R. H. Braybon, M.B.E., T.D., F.I.O.B., J.P., Managing Director, T. J. Braybon, Sons Limited, Builders and Contractors Mr. J. A. C. Burnand, B.Sc., Assistant Manager, Building Development Group, Imperial Chemical Industries Limited. Mr. P. H. Dunstone, T.D., F.R.I.C.S., Partner Monk and Dunstone, Quantity Surveyors. Mr. A. J. Gordon, F.R.I.B.A., Dip.Arch. (Cardiff), Partner, Alex. Gordon and Partners, Architects. Mr. W. K. Jackson, F.C.A., Company Secretary and Accountant, Concrete Limited, Specialist Sub-Contractors. Mr. S. M. Lovell, C.B.E., E.R.D., T.D., M.I.C.E., A.M.I.Mun.E., A.M.T.P.I., F.I.H.E., County Engineer and Surveyor, County Council of the West Riding of Yorkshire. Mr. P. F. Miller, Systems Analyst, Production Control Department, John Laing Construction Ltd. Mr. S. Murray, F.R.I.C.S., Chief Quantity Surveyor, Scottish Special Housing Association. Mr. B. Scruby, A.M.I.C.E., M.I.Struct,E., M.Soc.C.E., (France), M.A.S.C.E., M.Cons.E., Partner, Sir Frederick Snow and Partners, Consulting Engineers.