§ Mr. Ron Ledgerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) if he is satisfied that the present powers of local authorities to control building operations, under the Building Regulations 1965, are adequate to safeguard the interests of purchasers of new houses; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will extend the existing regulations to enable local authorities to control finishings, such as plaster work, joinery and painting, in the building of new houses.
§ Mr. MellishBuilding regulations cover some of the basic requirements of health and safety, but the interests of purchasers also depend on other matters such as the quality of finishing work, as my hon. Friend's second question recognises, and these are not easily dealt with by a statutory minimum code. The scheme of the258W National House-Builders Registration Council, if given a wide enough coverage, seems to my right hon. Friend at present a better way of securing high standards of quality in matters of this kind.