§ Mr. Rowlandsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he intends to introduce to safeguard home buyers from shoddy building and the failure by some builders to complete estate roads and paths within a reasonable period.
§ Mr. StanleyThe enforcement of the building regulations is intended to ensure that the erection of houses and other buildings complies with health and safety requirements. In addition, the National House-Building Council operates a warranty scheme which covers the owner of a new private house for the costs of remedying defects due to poor workmanship over an initial period of two years and for the correction of major structural defects over eight further years.
The warranty is backed by inspection by the council's officials during construction. The warranty covers at least 99 per cent. of houses newly built by the private house building industry in Great Britain. I have no plans at present to introduce proposals for further safeguards.
Estate roads and paths are covered by the street works code which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport in England, and in Wales my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.