§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will bring up to date the table of staffing of the building research establishment given in the reply to the right hon. Member for Durham, North-West (Mr. Armstrong) on 27 July 1978; what is the current shortfall of staff in post compared with the authorised complement (a) overall and (b) in the science category; and whether he will give an assurance that
456W
BRE COMPLEMENT Complement 1979–80 Staff in post at 1 July 1979 Science Category: Director (CSO (A) … … … … 1 1 CSO (B) … … … … … … 1 1 DCSO … … … … … … 6 6 SPSO … … … … … … 22 21 PSO … … … … … … 75 67 SSO … … … … … … … 123 111½ HSO … … … … … … 147 134 SO … … … … … … … 109 91 ASO … … … … … … … 72 64½ 556 497 Research Officers: SRO … … … … … … … 2 0 RO … … … … … … … 0 1 2 1 Professional and Technology Category: Superintendent Engineer … … … … … … … 1 1 PPTO … … … … … … … 15 15 PTOI … … … … … … … 16 19 PTOII … … … … … … … 14 13 PTOIII … … … … … … … 13 13 PTOIV … … … … … … … 18 14 77 75 Administration Group: Principal … … … … … … 1 1 SEO … … … … … … 1 2 HEO … … … … … … 7 6 EO … … … … … … … 15 17 CO … … … … … … … 72 71½ CA … … … … … … … 18 16 115 113½ Information Officers: Senior Information Officers … … … 1 1 Information Officers … … … … 1 1 Assistant Information Officers … … … 2 2 6 6 Graphics Officers: Graphics Officer III … … … 1 2 Graphics Officer IV … … … … 3 1 Drawing Office Assistant … … … … 5 5 Tracer … … … … … … 1 1 10 9 any further manpower cuts will be related to the authorised establishment and not to the number of staff currently in post.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe complement and staff-in-post figures are attached. The shortfall of staff in post compared with complement at 1 July 1979 was 61 overall and 59 for the science group.
We are at present considering the manpower levels of the whole Department in the light of the Government's review of public sector manpower and decisions will be announced in due course.
457W
Complement 1979–80 Staff in post at 1 July 1979 Personal Secretaries and Typists: Senior Personal Secretary … … … 1 1 Personal Secretary … … … … 20 20 Senior Superintendent of Typists … … 1 1 Superintendent of Typists … … 2 2 Typists … … … … … … 23 23 47 47 Photographers: Chief Photographer … … … … 1 1 Principal Photographer … … … … 3 3 Senior Photographer … … … … 8 4 Photographer … … … … … 2 4 Assistant Photographer … … … … 0 2 14 14 Other grades: Assistant Chief Photoprinter … … … 1 1 Photoprinter I … … … … … 3 3 Photoprinter II … … … … … 8 8½ Senior Data Processor … … … … 4 5 Data Processor … … … … … 16 15 Trainee Data Processor … … … … 0 3 Paperkeeper … … … … … 1 1 Senior Messenger … … … … 2 2 Messenger … … … … … … 8 6½ Telephonists … … … … … 6 6½ Laboratory Attendant … … … … 0 1 49 52½ TOTAL … … … … … 876 815
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current number of staff in post at the building integrity division of the building research establishment; what is the current programme of work; what steps are being taken to improve recruitment; what is the current authorised complement; and whether he will make a statement on the future of this unit.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe current number of staff in post is seven including the head of division, against a complement of 13. Recruitment is in abeyance during the current recruitment ban. The division's programme continues to include data collection and analysis, ad hoc studies of particular failures, and investigation of selected subjects including work on wall ties, lintels, suspended ceilings and the implications of energy conservation measures. In addition, research on accidents in the home has recently been transferred to the division. The work of the division will be developed according to the availability of suitable staff.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Mr. 458W E. H. A. Stretton has now completed his reports on the building research establishment; and whether he will publish them.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergMr. Stretton has completed his review. He was to report to the director general of research and to the director general of organisation and establishments. His interim report went to them in January and the final report will be with them shortly. I expect the report to receive the usual circulation for departmental management services reports.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now name the successor to Mr. James Dick as director of the building research establishment.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergDr. Ivan Dunstan will succeed Mr. James Dick who is retiring on 19 July.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action has been taken since 12 March in the light of the report of the building research establishment entitled " The Integrity of 459W Trussed Rafter Roofs "; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe pilot survey referred to in the report has been completed; the main survey will start shortly and be completed in 1980. Related work is in hand at BRE on environmental conditions, preservation and corrosion, and finger joints; further research will be formulated in the light of the survey results and as resources permit. The timber research and development association has sponsored a meeting to discuss the report and the Institution of Structural Engineers is to hold a symposium on the design aspects in February 1980.