Building Research Establishment (Hansard, 17 January 1995)

§ Sir Paul Beresford

There have been no redundancies at the Building Research Establishment.

The establishment's policy and resources framework is under review; this includes consideration of whether executive agency status is the most appropriate basis for BRE's future operations. My right hon. Friend will make a statement in due course.

I have asked the chief executive of BRE to write to the hon. Member about the establishment's work in developing countries.

Letter from R.G. Courtney to Mr. George Foulkes, dated 13 January 1995:

BRE ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

The Minister for Construction has asked me to reply to the part of your Parliamentary Question which concerns the assistance BRE provides to developing countries. This currently takes various forms which I outline below.

Research and associated advice

Medium-term programmes of research, carried out over a period of three years or so, have addressed many issues relevant to construction in developing countries. They are normally funded by the Overseas Development Administration (ODA) and often includes joint research undertaken with organisations in developing countries. A current ODA-funded programme is demonstrating the value of energy-efficient refurbishment of domestic apartments in China. In this, we are working with the Chinese Academy of 407W Building Research. BRE recently concluded a project on low-cost housing in Malaysia carried out with the Universiti Sains Malaysia and the University of Wales. This was partly funded by ODA, with further assistance from the British Council.

Commissions

BRE receives commissions, often through ODA or other aid agencies but sometimes directly from the countries concerned, to undertake short-term research-based work to meet specific needs. Examples of this during 1994/95 have included assistance to the timber industry in Honduras, and to the Ministry of Construction in Vietnam. We have also assisted developing countries establish their own building research organisations. For example, BRE advised the Ministry of the Interior in Taiwan on the development of its Building Research Institute, and now continues to provide advice and training to the Institute, at present in fire research and testing.

Attached workers

BRE has 'attached workers' from developing countries, for periods of training or to gain research experience. The enclosed BRE Overseas Information Paper explains the scheme. At any time there are usually two or three attached workers at BRE. They are generally in receipt of a scholarship from an aid agency or from their own government.

Advice to enquirers

Provision of advice to enquirers from developing countries is funded by ODA at a cost in 1994/95 of nearly £20k. Enquiries are usually concerned with the design of low cost housing and community buildings, the use of alternative building materials and the principles of construction suitable to withstand natural forces such as earthquakes and hurricanes. They are replied to individually, but are often answered by sending an Overseas Building Note. This series of publications has been funded by ODA although no funds are currently available for its development.

Distribution of research reports

BRE distributes a limited number of free copies of research reports, and other publications to similar organisations in developing countries, usually on an exchange basis but sometimes as gifts to develop international co-operation.

International collaboration

In its main programmes, BRE collaborates with universities and technical institutions from many countries, including developing countries. For example, BRE has an agreement with the Sichuan Institute of Building Research in China, under which the Institute assists BRE by carrying out a small programme of masonry research under a sub-contract.

In total, BRE received £141k from ODA programmes in 1993/94.

I hope this information will be helpful; please let me know if you would like me to expand on any aspect of our work.