§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the £86,000 allocated to the Building Integrity Division of the Building Research Establishment was spent last year; if not what was the actual expenditure; and what is the allocation for the current year.
§ Mr. ArmstrongThe actual expenditure of this division, which was £40,000, was lower than planned because of problems in building up strength. The provisional budget for 1977–78 is £105,000, but spending will be governed by the pace at which strength can be further increased.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much the 14 and 31 staff in the Housing Policy and Urban Planning Divisions of the Building Research Establishment have been reduced to date; and what is the budget for each of these divisions in 1977–78.
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§ Mr. ArmstrongBoth these divisions are below complement, and their present combined strength is 34. Complement for the Housing Policy Division remains 14, but that for the Urban Planning Division has been reduced from 31 to 29. Their respective budgets for 1977–78 are £250.000 and £380,000.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made to date with the work of the Building Integrity Division of the Building Research Establishment on structural problems relating to roofing, wall ties and cladding; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ArmstrongA report on cladding is in draft. The survey of roofing has been completed, and its implications are being assessed. The work on wall ties is in hand.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment in view of the fact that, on 24th July 1975, 41 staff of the Building Research Establishment were wholly or mainly engaged in research on identifying the reasons for structural or technical defects, why only seven staff were authorised to join the new Building Integrity Division on 28th January 1977; how many of those seven were recruited from the 41; what are now the main duties of the 41; and how their work relates to that of the Building Integrity Division.
§ Mr. ArmstrongThe new division was set up to increase total relevant effort at a time when the establishment's overall strength is being reduced. Most of the 41 specialist staff in question are still in post, working in various fields involving structures, including their vulnerability to fire and weather. Two of these staff have been transferred to the new division, but the scope for further transfers is limited, partly because the qualities needed for this wide-ranging exploratory work differ from those needed for specialised research. More important, the specialist staff provide the essential information on which the new division must draw to meet its general remit to seek out and assess possible risk areas. Transfers of these specialists would not increase the total relevant effort.
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§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current staffing level of the Building Integrity Division of the Building Research Establishment; and when the newly authorised complement of 10 staff during 1977–78 will be achieved.
§ Mr. ArmstrongThe present staff strength is six, including the division head. A further member already selected will join the division shortly. It remains the Department's plan for strength to reach 10 by March 1978.