HC Deb 13 December 1977 vol 941 cc155-6W
Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement outlining the progress of the inspection announced by his Department in March 1977 of buildings where the improper or excessive use of calcium chloride had given rise to defects.

Mr. Armstrong

Fifty-seven buildings in England other than those owned by local education authorities needed inspection. Reports on 54 of them have now been received and indicate no sign of damage which might be due to the addition of calcium chloride during the manufacture of prestressed concrete components: chemical analyses of concrete samples from 45 of these buildings indicate that in only two of them is there any possibility that calcium chloride may have been added during manufacture, and in those cases to only a small proportion of the components. The remainder of the results are being sought.

Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if remedial work has yet been completed on the 11 buildings found defective due to improper or excessive use of calcium chloride, referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr on 21st June 1976; and, if so, at what cost to public funds.

Mr. Armstrong

Of the 11 buildings referred to as defective owing to the improper or excessive use of calcium chloride in my right hon. Friend's answer to my hon. Friend on 21st June 1976 all work necessary has been completed at

Geological Institute, Halton: Total cost approx. £2,000
Reception Centre, Plawsworth: Total cost approx. £4,150
Joint Office Block, Crook: Total cost approx. £250
Offices, Harrogate: Total cost approx. £10,000
WRVS Building, Beverley: Total cost approx. £250

The four RAF buildings at Finningley were found in subsequent investigation not to require remedial action.

The laboratory at Warren Springs had already had repair work to the value of £18,000 spent in 1975 and it is proposed to start further repairs, costing a further £2,000 in March 1978.

Work is approximately 90 per cent. complete at the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, Titchfield. The estimated cost of remedial work arising out of the use of the chloride, £12,000, is the subject of part of a contractual claim for a larger amount.