§ Mr. Bevanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the programme of technical work to be carried out by the Building Research Establishment, referred to by the Minister for Housing and Construction in his answer to the hon. Member for Reading, North (Mr. Durant) on 22 February, Official Report, c. 430, has been extended to include Smith houses.
§ Mr. StanleyI can confirm that, following the receipt of technical information on structural defects in Smith houses from Birmingham city council, I have asked the Building Research Establishment to add Smith houses to the six types of prefabricated reinforced concrete houses that local authorities were informed on 22 February would be the subject of a technical evaluation by the BRE. All local authorities in England are being notified of this extension and the Secretary of State for Wales is taking similar action. The Building Societies Association, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Institution of Structural Engineers and the Royal Institute of British Architects are also being notified.