§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what measures are in place for the monitoring and control of approved building control inspectors from the private sector; and if he will make a statement; [18871]
(2) what measures are in place for the monitoring and control of local authority building control inspectors. [18870]
§ Mr. Raynsford[holding answer 3 December 1997]: Local authority building control officers are answerable to the chief officers of the authorities for which they work, and through them to elected members. As regards private sector approved inspectors, the appointing body also has the power to withdraw approval. In the case of corporate bodies, approval is given by the Secretary of State, and, in the case of individuals, it is given by the Construction Industry Council. I am currently consulting the Local Government Association, the Construction Industry Council and the Association of Corporate Approved Inspectors on ways of securing consistent building control standards and better conditions for competition across the public and private sectors of building control.