§ 1. Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to require the compulsory double glazing of all glass used externally on future building projects; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg)No, Sir. Designers and builders are free to use double glazing where they consider it appropriate. We have no reason to restrict their freedom in this matter.
§ Mr. McQuarrieI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Does he agree that there is an urgent need to conserve energy and that legislation that made compulsory the use of double glazing would assist public energy conservation and the glass and glazing industry, which is seriously affected by the present economic situation?
§ Mr. FinsbergPossibly, Sir. However, we believe that the building regulations are too blunt an instrument for such fine tuning.
§ Mr. SeverDoes the hon. Gentleman accept that he will receive much support for extending the use of double glazing from his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy? As the hon. Member 450 for Aberdeenshire, East (Mr. McQuarrie) has indicated, there is considerable feeling that if such measures and similar ones were taken, energy conservation would be considerable. Will the hon. Gentleman consider calling for a report on the validity of the argument contained in the question?
§ Mr. FinsbergI think that what I have said covers the point. If people think that double glazing will benefit them, there is no reason why they should not double glaze and make fuel savings.