§ Mr. Macfarlaneasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet identified all building designs where the use of high alumina cement requires remedial work.
§ Mr. FreesonNo. We hope to identify categories of building where there is no need for appraisals of their safety, but in other cases appraisal will continue to be necessary to decide whether remedial work is needed. A sub-committee of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee has been set up to advise on these matters.
§ Mr. Macfarlaneasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he considers the use of high alumina cement constitutes a danger to those using or living on the premises.
§ Mr. FreesonThe fact that a building contains high alumina cement concrete does not necessarily mean that it is dangerous, and, for example, in many houses and flats where this material has been used in the floor structure the risk of failure is very small. However, it is for individual owners and occupiers to satisfy themselves about the structural safety of their buildings. Advice on this has been given in the Department's circular letter of 20th July 1974. Further advice based on the results of the studies by the Building Research Establishment will be given shortly.
§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the use of high alumina cement in building; from whom; and on what dates.
§ Mr. FreesonRepresentations about the high alumina cement problem have been received from local authority associations, individual local authorities, many other bodies and individuals, as well as from Members of Parliament.
§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make a statement on his inquiries into the use of high alumina cement in building.
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§ Mr. FreesonI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Reading, North (Mr. Durant) on 27th March.—[Vol. 889, c.261.]