§ Mr. Arnold Shawasked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he 249W will now make a statement about the Committee on Building Maintenance.
§ Mr. MellishYes. The Interim Report of the Committee on Building Maintenance is being published today as an R & D Bulletin of my Ministry. I am grateful to the Committee for a critical analysis of importance to all engaged in construction.
The Committee makes a number of specific recommendations which I propose to accept, subject to availability of funds for those entailing expenditure upon research and advisory services. Recommendations for my Ministry to review the periods of liability arising from design commissions and contracts for works and building supplies, and the operation of capital cost limits in relation to subsequent running costs, will be considered in consultation with other interested parties. Relations between the Committee and my Ministry's maintenance organisation are to be further strengthened by joint studies and experiments.
Following his appointment as Parliamentary Secretary to my Ministry my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Loughlin) has succeeded to the chair of the Committee for the further work leading to its final report.