§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the progress, morale and performance of the Agrément Board since 8 April 1981.
§ Mr. StanleyDuring the financial year 1981–82 the Agrément Board issued 83 new certificates and renewed 56. This represented an increase of about 30 per cent. compared with the previous year, achieved without significant changes in staff numbers, and was a commendable performance. The Property Services Agency are giving precedence in their specifications to independently certificated construction products, including those with agrément certificates. On 27 May 1982 we published major consultation documents setting out proposals for a new system of building regulations, and indicating how agrément certificates could be given a role in it as "approved documents". The board has welcomed these proposals.