§ Mr. Michael Martinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the saving in construction costs as a result of the approval of plasterboard as a noncombustible lining board resulting from the changes in the building regulations 1979.
§ Mr. RifkindA class relaxation of the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations was given in 1977 to enable plasterboard to qualify in various situations as a non-combustible material for the purpose of the regulations. A proposal to amend the regulations for the same purpose was circulated for comment in 1979 but has not yet been implemented. Information about the effect in cost terms
184Whospital beds have been permanently closed in each health board area since 1 July 1979 to date; and what further closures are contemplated in the remainder of the current financial year.
§ Mr. FairgrieveThe information requested is in the following table:
is not readily available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Michael Martinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library details of reports from the fire authorities in Scotland which show the extent of damage where the following types of lining boards were used in the construction of the buildings concerned (a) plasterboard and (b) non-combustible insulating board.
§ Mr. RifkindIt would not be practicable to extract from the United Kingdom fire statistics details of all fires in buildings in which lining boards were used, and I do not have reports from fire authorities on the matter.