HC Deb 20 January 1997 vol 288 cc437-40W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total financial allocation(a) from his Department and (b) from other Government Departments and agencies for research to be carried out by the Building Research Establishment executive agency in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98. [11268]

Mr. Robert B. Jones

The total amount expected to be spent at the Building Research Establishment in 1996–97 by my Department will be in the order of £32 million.

The Department is discussing with BRE proposed contracts for 1997–98, when it is anticipated that BRE will be in the private sector.

In 1996–97, other Government Departments have commissioned work valued at £2.1 million. It is a matter for individual Departments to decide whether and when to let contracts to BRE in 1997–98.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the names and qualifications of the Building Research Establishment executive agency visitors. [11270]

Mr. Jones

The visitors of the Building Research Establishment executive agency are appointed by its chief executive, and I have asked him to reply.

Letter from R.G. Courtney to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 16 January 1997: The Secretary of State for the Environment has asked me to reply to your question on the names and qualifications of the Building Research Establishment Executive Agency Visitors. The BRE Visitors are: N. Armstrong, Director, North East Region Housing Corporation J. B. Deal, Technical Director, Haden Young Limited Dr. B. C. Hutt, Chairman of the Building Group, W. S. Atkins Consultants Limited Professor P. E. O'Sullivan OBE, Head of the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College, London Dr. D. G. Anderson, Technical Director, Lambson Fine Chemicals Limited R. Crotty, Computer Executive, Bovis Construction Limited D. Kincaid, Building Management Consultant Professor C. L. Page, Department of Civil Engineering, Aston University Professor D. Bradley FRS, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds Dr. D. D. Drysdale, Fire Safety Engineering Unit, University of Edinburgh Professor T. J. Shields, Director, Fire Research and Testing Centre, University of Ulster Professor J. B. Burland, Professor of Soil Mechanics, Imperial College, London E. C. Chaplin, Company Chief Engineer, Tarmac Construction Limited B. W. Smith, Flint and Neill Partnership Professor R. Webster, Faculty of Design, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.

I regret that we do not hold details of their qualifications.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what sources of professional advice his Department will have available after the transfer of the Building Research Establishment executive agency to the private sector to enable his Department to arbitrate on plans for novel buildings; and if he will make a statement. [11272]

Mr. Jones

My Department employs its own professional officers to advise on cases referred to it under the Building Act 1984, but where appropriate advice will continue to be sought from the Building Research Establishment after its transfer to the private sector.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total amount allocated to the negotiated research programme for the Building Research Establishment executive agency for the financial year 1996–97 by his Department. [11267]

Mr. Jones

The total amount expected to be spent at the Building Research Establishment in 1996–97 under the negotiated construction research programme is £15.85 million.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to ensure the continuing maintenance of the Buildings Research Establishment executive agency's large building test facility at Cardington after the transfer of the agency to the private sector. [11275]

Mr. Jones

In response to a question from my right hon. Friend the Member for Watford (Mr. Garel-Jones) on 2 April 1996,Official Report, columns 163–64, my right hon. Friend made it clear that the Government want BRE to remain a single entity. That is the basis on which BRE is being offered for sale.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has undertaken to solicit the views of the construction industries throughout the United Kingdom regarding his intention to transfer the Building Research Establishment executive agency to the private sector; and if he will make a statement. [11280]

Mr. Jones

A large number of construction industry bodies were consulted as part of the review of the options for privatisation of BRE carried out by PA Consulting. In addition, three senior industry representatives were members of the advisory group which oversaw PA Consulting's work.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken to ensure that those parts of the land on which the Building Research Establishment executive agency is situated which are sites of special scientific interest will be protected in the event of the transfer of the Building Research Establishment to the private sector. [11278]

Mr. Jones

There are no sites of special scientific interest on the sites occupied by the Building Research Establishment.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when funding for the negotiated research programme for the Building Research Establishment executive agency for the financial year 1997–98 will be allocated by his Department. [11266]

Mr. Jones

Within the Department the allocation for construction research programmes has been made. The Department is discussing with BRE proposed contracts for 1997–98, when it is anticipated that BRE will be in the private sector.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is being taken to establish the nature of the waste deposited in refuse tips on land on which the Building Research Establishment executive agency is sited at Garston, and the extent of the contamination of that waste; and if he will make a statement. [11279]

Mr. Jones

An environmental liabilities audit was commissioned by the Department as part of the preparation for the sale of BRE. This concluded that the area of the Garston site previously used for tipping does not present a risk to the current activities.