HC Deb 28 November 1967 vol 755 cc46-7W
60. Mr. John Wells

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that Regulation B 3 of the Building Regulations, 1965, does not permit the use of any painted timber other than impregnated timber for external walls or buildings, although painted timber weatherboard walls have been used satisfactorily for traditional buildings in Kent and other parts of England for centuries; why only a few permitted woods are allowed to be used for external cladding under those Regulations; and why the painting of the wood is not taken into account as an adequate preservative.

Mr. MacColl

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the Questions by the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Gresham Cooke) on 21st November.—[Vol. 754, c.301–2.]

64. Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek to amend the law in so far as it obliges him to confine the purposes of building regulations to health and safety so as to provide himself with power to make building regulations which also take into account basic economic considerations of national importance.

Mr. MacColl

My right hon. Friend will see that this suggestion is noted for consideration in connection with any proposals for wider legislation on the regulation of building, but he cannot go further than this at present.