HC Deb 19 January 1979 vol 960 cc948-9W
Mr. Ridsdale

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what help is available under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 or from other Government sources in the case of seaside amenities such as piers that have suffered damage in the recent storms.

Mr. Denis Howell:

If the local authority for the area in which such damage has occurred incurs additional expenditure under section 138 of the Local Government Act 1972 in excess of a 1 prate product it will be eligible for 75 per cent. special Government assistance in respect of that excess. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade that assistance is not available under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 in these circumstances.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish working and background papers on the homes insulation programme.

Mr. Freeson:

In developing the homes insulation programme we drew mainly on data publicity available from Audits Great Britain Ltd. and on the results of the English house condition survey. The main survey report has already been published; further papers on particular aspects will be published in due course. There are no specific background papers available, but we shall certainly consider publishing any future papers.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the report of the National Building Agency on the effect of different insulation standards on pensioners and low income families.

Mr. Freeson:

This report was an internal working document and was not in a suitable form for publication. The report does, however, contain much material of interest which could be made available, and I am considering how this can best be done.