HC Deb 27 January 1976 vol 904 cc151-2W
Mr. Michael Latham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list the general headings or research work related to house building performance currently being caried out by his Department or the Building Research Establishment, as referred to in the Minister for Housing and Construction's answer to the hon. Member for Melton on 13th January.

Mr. Freeson

Studies are being made of the effects of present controls and procedures on local authority house build- ing, and possible methods of reducing completion times are being examined. Research is also in progress on methods for forecasting the labour, plant and materials needed for all kinds of construction, including housing.

Housebuilding in the private sector is being monitored to establish the likely impact of alternative policies on the rate of completion; to improve appraisal of the effects of temporary shortages of resources; and to increase the accuracy of output forecasts.