Vol. 461 No. 6
85 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for the Environment if he will recommend to local authorities the use of hardwood on PVC window sashes and outer doors in view of the short life span of soft wood and the cost of replacement. [18161/95]
Housing authorities were advised by my Department on 10 February 1994 in relation to external joinery in new local authority housing schemes. The authorities were requested, with a view to obtaining value for money in the long-term and reducing future maintenance costs, to review their specifications in the light of their experience with the maintenance of their housing stock and to ensure that materials used in new schemes are appropriate for their purpose and local conditions. The choice of specification should be based on the need to achieve value for money, having regard to initial cost, maintenance cost and the probable life of the elements concerned. The specification should ensure that the materials and workmanship involved in manufacture and installation meet the requirements of the Building Regulations and the EU Construction Products Directive. Alternative prices should be sought at tender stage for different types of external joinery to enable an assessment to be made by the authority of the best value for money option.
