§ Mr. Costainasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list the services provided by the National Building Agency other than their original functions relating to industrialised building; in what year each of them was approved; and after what degree of consultation with the building industry or local authorities.
§ Mr. ChannonThe major services provided by the National Building Agency derive from the broad pattern of work described in paragraph 12 of the White Paper "A National Building Agency" (Cmnd. 2228), although in response to demand the emphasis has shifted from the technology of newer building methods to use of better management procedures. The Agency hold periodic meetings with the N.F.B.T.E., Systems Builders Section, and both the industry and local authorities are represented on the Agency's board.
§ Mr. Costainasked the Secretary of State for the Environment for what new services he has agreed to provide grant-in-aid to the National Building Agency during the present financial year; and for what existing services he decided to terminate the grant on the grounds that they were adequately provided for by other agencies not in receipt of Government grant.
§ Mr. ChannonNo grant-aided services provided by the National Building Agency have been introduced or terminated in the current financial year.
§ Mr. Costainasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present staff establishment of the National Building Agency; how many of the staff 450W are concerned wholly or mainly with appraising industrialised building systems; and what control he exercises over staff establishments.
§ Mr. ChannonThere are 100 technical and professional staff currently engaged by the National Building Agency, of whom seven are concerned wholly or mainly with appraising industrialised building systems. The staff establishment of the National Building Agency is a matter for the board of the Agency to determine in the light of the Agency's workload and its income.