§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of the conclusions of the Eurisol report, "Pollution Reduction Through Energy Conservation", he will(a) make the insulation standards of the proposed new building regulations compulsory, (b) provide grants for this work and (c) bring existing homes up to these proposed standards.
§ Mr. TrippierA consultation paper issued last July proposed that the existing thermal insulation requirements in the building regulations should be upgraded. Responses to the consultation paper are being considered. It was also proposed that the form of this part of the regulations should be brought more into line with that of other parts, by requiring reasonable provision to be made for the conservation of fuel and power, and by including guidance on insulation standards in the approved document. Experience has shown that this approach enables effective control to be maintained, but in a clearer and more flexible way. While it would not be appropriate to provide grants towards the cost of complying with building regulations requirements, there are provisions in the Local Government and Housing Bill to enable local authorities to pay grants towards the cost of providing adequate thermal insulation in existing dwellings.