§ 23. Mr. Harry Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will issue advice to Scottish local authorities that when they seek designs for new houses they should give the fullest consideration to the need for maximum insulation in order to reduce heating costs.
§ Mr. MillanDesign guidance on thermal insulation for new local authority houses is given in the Scottish Housing Handbook Part 3. My right hon. Friend's Department intends to supplement this shortly. My right hon. Friend is also about to consult interested bodies, including local authority associations, on proposals for improving the thermal insulation standards laid down in the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations.
§ Mr. EwingI am grateful to the Minister for that reply, which clearly indicates the emphasis the Government are placing on thermal insulation in new houses. Will my hon. Friend give an undertaking that the Department will 426 have a close look at what is happening in Scandinavian countries, and that if there is anything to be learned that would help housing in Scotland we, too, will employ the methods of thermal insulation employed there?
§ Mr. MillanI shall look into that. It is a question of learning from all relevant sources. I shall see that that point is taken into consideration.
§ Mr. MacArthurWill the Minister consider introducing insulation grants for existing houses to help householders cope with the sharp increases in coal and electricity prices later this year?
§ Mr. MillanIt is a concern of the Government that the electricity industry was left in such a state that if we were now to make it economic we should have to increase the domestic consumer's bill by no less than 50 per cent. I am glad to say that we have been able to restrain those substantial increases. That is another matter very much appreciated in the hon. Gentleman's constituency. I am sure that he keeps telling his constituents about all the benefits they are receiving from the Labour Government.