§ VISCOUNT HANWORTHMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government when they consulted local authority associations on proposals for the improvement of the heat insulation of new houses and when they anticipate issuing their long-delayed advisory circular.
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, the local authority associations were asked in July to comment on the draft advice prepared by the Department on thermal insulation in new dwellings. Because the subject is a complex one we have only just received the last of the comments. We are now studying these in detail and will proceed with the publication of advice as soon as it is practicable to do so.
§ VISCOUNT HANWORTHMy Lords, while thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask him whether he recalls that over a period of years now he has regarded this matter as of the highest priority, and would he not feel that the gestation period has been far in excess of that of an elephant and at present a mouse escapes? May I further ask him, in reference to my remark about the mouse, whether he is considering the bringing in of regulations to make these requirements compulsory instead of only advisory, particularly in view of the present energy crisis?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, I think the noble Viscount will be well aware that all the Ministers in my Department agree upon the necessity for thermal insulation. The necessity for waiting for advice was emphasised by us several times to the councils who were late in replying. When I say that the most important of all was the last reply and it came only last week he will perhaps understand. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is looking at the necessity for compulsion in relation to the matter of health. We have no power of compulsion for building regulations unless there are health grounds.
§ VISCOUNT HANWORTHMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that further reply. He knows, of course, that I realise the difficulty with the building regulations, but my question was whether he was considering the bringing in of some different measure or including it in some future Bill, so that regulations, which cannot be made easily under the building regulations, could be made mandatory.
§ Loan MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, I think I have already told both the noble Viscount and the House several times, but I will remind the House again that some 30 per cent. of local authorities already go above the minimum recommendation. The yardstick is really of minimal concern here. We have no power of compulsion as regards buildings, only advice. If there is a health reason to be found my right honourable friend will have no hesitation in introducing compulsion in that respect.
§ LORD WYNNE-JONESMy Lords, will the noble Lord agree that the country 353 is losing about £10 million a year through faulty insulation, inadequate insulation, on new buildings going up now?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, I would accept that we are losing an awful lot of power, money and heat through lack of proper insulation.