§ Mr. David Watkinsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the report of his Department's research into heating and insulation of older property occupied by old people; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ArmstrongThe report is being published today. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses and will also be on sale from my Department.
The purpose of the research was to study the feasibility and effectiveness of "first-aid" to the heating and insulation arrangements of older property occupied by old people. Involving about 30 properties, it was conducted in Coventry, South Tyneside and Wandsworth, with the assistance of the local authorities for the areas, and with monitoring by the research institute of consumer affairs.
Our main aim was to look at the practical considerations involved. The limited number of properties, and the method of selection, means that the results should be regarded as illustrative rather than completely representative. The work does however show that the heating conditions of old people in older housing can be improved by first-aid measures. The work did not generally lead to lower fuel bins, since the old people had been spending only limited amounts on fuel previously. It is however likely that they got more heat for their money,and most of them said they felt warmer after the work had been carried out.
I am considering urgently with those of my right hon. Friends most concerned what further action can be taken in the light of the report. In the meantime, I 382W believe the report will serve as a useful practical guide to those seeking to remedy conditions of the kind identified by the research.