HC Deb 02 July 1975 vol 894 cc1447-9
8. Mr. Rost

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to speed up the approval of cavity wall insulation in the interests of energy conservation.

28. Mr. Stephen Ross

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will amend his recent circular relating to cavity wall insulation which states that the use of urea formaldehyde foam can constitute a breach of Building Regulation C9.2.

Mr. Freeson

We have recommended cavity wall insulation in the right circumstances, in advisory pamphlets issued earlier this year, and in April we issued a circular letter of advice to local authorities outlining the circumstances in which it would be proper to relax the building regulation which forbids "bridging" of the outer and inner leaf of a wall. I am considering the use of powers under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to issue a type relaxation for cavity wall insulation.

Mr. Rost

Has nobody told the Minister that as a direct result of that circular to local authorities the cavity wall insulation industry has slumped to 25 per cent. of its capacity? What is the point of the Department of Energy trying to encourage cavity wall insulation while the Department of the Environment is deliberately putting obstacles in its way? Why does not the hon. Gentleman get together with the Department of Energy and sort out this mess?

Mr. Freeson

It would be helpful if the hon. Gentleman would check his facts and be more accurate. We are in close contact with the Department of Energy. The circular which the hon. Gentleman says created obstacles and caused a reduction in business did the opposite. It pointed out to local authorities that in the vast majority of cases relaxation would be the proper thing to do.

Mr. Ross

Is the Minister aware that potential savings of heat loss through cavity wall insulation have been estimated to be worth as much as £250 million and that there have been statements from the producers of the materials that they have lost considerable business? Are not further Press advertising and a further direction to local authorities necessary?

Mr. Freeson

We have issued considerable publicity material encouraging cavity wall insulation and other forms of insulation as a contribution towards energy conservation and improved environmental conditions in the home. There are, however, situations in which certain kinds of treatment of walls will produce damp penetration, and it would be wrong for us to take no action to avoid that and it would be wrong for local authorities to take no action to deal with it. What we are trying to do through our circulars of advice is to encourage the right approach, to encourage insulation without those risks. When the time is proper, after due consultation, we shall probably issue a type relaxation under the Act to which I referred.

Miss Fookes

I should like to point out to the Minister that meanwhile the firms are suffering a loss. They have approached me on this very point. May we have fairly swift action?

Mr. Freeson

I do not know what swifter action there could have been than the considerable publicity which we, together with the Department of Energy, have issued to encourage this kind of insulation. We also issued a circular in April—soon after the cases about which anxiety has been expressed were reported to the Secretary of State—which gives careful advice to local authorities on this matter.