§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision has been made within his Department for monitoring the impact on fire safety of changes to the building regulations and the Approved Document B Fire Safety 1992 Regulations for England and Wales in order to assess the possible implications of the regulations for building and fire standards in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 23 November 1992]: The effectiveness of the building standards in England and Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. My Department has developed close working relationships with other Departments which facilitate exchanges of information on the operation of the separate building regulations.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what plans he has to review or amend existing building and fire standards in Scotland; and if he will make a statement;
589W(2) what representations he has received on building and fire standards in Scotland; how many were (a) in favour of and (b) opposed to preserving existing arrangements; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 23 November 1992]: The technical standards for compliance with the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations were last reviewed in 1990. New proposals affecting the fire provisions in the standards are currently under consideration and will shortly be issued to interested bodies for comment.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the composition of the advisory panel on building and fire standards in Scotland, the length of tenure for each appointment and the level of remuneration, where appropriate.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 23 November 1992]: The membership of the Building Standards Advisory Committee is as follows:
- Professor C. C. Robertson DA FRIBA FRIAS FRAIA FCIOB (Chairman)
- Professor S. J. Allwinkle BSc MSAAT
- Mrs. J. B. Deans MBE PRIAS BArch RIBA
- Mr. K. J. B. Graham FIBD FIR
- Mrs. M. M. Hall CBE MA LLB
- Mr. H. C. Hunter MBE IFE
- Mr. R. F. Jamieson HonFRIAS FRICS FFB FInstD
- Mr. R. C. Kirkwood BSc CEng MICE MASHRAE FCIBSE
- Mr. R. McGowan CEng MICE MIStructE MIHE MIBC
- Dr. E. W. Marchant RIBA BIAS MIFireE MSFSE
- Mr. A. G. Short MCIOB FICW MRSH FFB
- Mr. M. A. Underwood BSc DipTech(CEng)
- Mr. D. Walker
Members are appointed for a period not exceeding three years initially and are unpaid.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes are envisaged to the periods of fire resistance or compartmentation size required in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 23 November 1992]: My right hon. Friend will shortly be consulting interested bodies on a package of proposed amendments to those parts of the technical standards for compliance with the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations which deal with fire resistance and means of escape from fire and facilities for fire fighting. The detail of the changes which are finally agreed cannot be determined until account has been taken of representations received in response to the consultation exercise.