Insulation

HC Deb 22 November 1995 vol 267 cc111-2W

Mr. Hanson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many voucher booklets offering discounts on home insulation products were recently distributed; which body was responsible for producing them; to whom they were distributed; and at what cost; [600]

(2) how many inquiries about cavity wall insulation were generated because of the television advertising campaign that formed part of the energy efficiency scheme promoted by his Department; [601]

(3) which body was responsible for the promotion of the cavity wall insulation scheme with which his Department was involved as part of the energy efficiency scheme; and how the body responsible for the promotion was chosen; [602]

(4) what was the cost to public funds of the recent television campaign promoting cavity wall insulation under the energy efficiency scheme. [603]

Mr. Robert B. Jones

The voucher booklets were produced by the Department of the Environment with the aim of increasing the take-up of energy efficiency measures through offers provided by private sector companies and trade associations at their own expense. Cavity wall insulation was only one of 14 different products and services included in the booklet. The voucher book as a whole was supported by television advertising costing £1,232,313.

Over 5 million voucher books have been distributed direct to owner-occupied older properties which are likely to be able to benefit from the full range of offers included. Distribution costs were £58,750. The voucher books can also be obtained from local energy advice centres and by using press advertisement coupons.

The cavity wall insulation offer is nominally promoted by InstaGroup, but covers four major fibre-based cavity insulation system designers, the National Cavity Insulation Association and the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency. InstaGroup's role as promoter came as a result of agreement among all the participants. All the vouchers are valid at least until the end of the year, and longer in some cases. It is therefore too early to assess the results.