§ Mr. BettsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he received from the 97W National House Building Council prior to his decision to increase local authority building control fees from 1 October.
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesTogether with many other consultees, the NHBC responded with comments and suggestions on the Department's consultation letter of 30 March 1993 proposing changes to the fees regulations. It subsequently wrote three letters reinforcing points in its original submission.
§ Mr. BettsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what steps he took to consult on the level of local authority building control fees prior to their increase in 1 October; and what were the results of those consultations;
(2) what considerations led to the increase from 1 October of building control fees charged by local authorities.
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesPreliminary discussions were held over a long period with local authority representatives. There followed a consultants' study into local authority fee income and costs. Based on the conclusions of the above discussions and on the results of the study, two public consultations were carried out into the form and fee levels for new regulations. The responses were considered by the building regulations advisory committee and by a working group made up of members of the committee and representatives of the local authority associations. In the light of these consultations, and the consideration of the responses, the Building (Prescribed Fees) Regulations 1994 were made.
§ Mr. BettsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received since announcing the increase in local authority building control fees.
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesMy Department has received 39 representations on local authority building control fees up to and including 6 January 1995. Twenty-four were principally about the level of increase in fees for new housebuilding, of which 20 were from local authorities. The remaining representations, largely from individuals, were about the size of the increase for all types of buildings or were concerned with the fee levels for house extensions or for commercial work.
§ Mr. BettsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what calculations he has made of the effect on local authority revenue of the increase in local authority building control fees in the light of the decision of the National House Building Council to freeze its fees.
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesNone. We propose to make arrangements to monitor the future levels of local authority fee income and costs without placing unnecessary burdens on local authorities. The level of fees charged by NHBC Building Control Services Limited is a matter for it.