§ LORD HYLTONasked Her Majesty's Government:
What reasons lie behind the reported decision to withdraw a grant-in-aid of £450, 000 per annum from the National Building Agency, and how the work of the Agency will be carried out in future.
§ LORD SANDFORDThe Government consider that the National Building Agency has an important contribution to make in housing and construction. It was, however, always the intention that the Agency should increase its fee income in order to reduce its dependence on annual grant-in-aid. Its fee income has increased from £3,000 in 1964–65 to over £400,000 in the last two financial years and the Government concluded that it would be right for the Agency to work towards the situation where it would be entirely self-supporting on the basis of fees earned from clients. Ministers and the Board of the Agency are confident that this will be possible. It was accordingly decided to phase out the annual grant-in-aid by April 1, 1974. The Agency will continue its work for Government Departments on such matters as General Improvement Areas and the metrication of housebuilding, and it will be considered for other appropriate future commissions by Government Departments. Its services will also continue to be available to local authorities and other clients.