§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of Power what recent studies have been undertaken together with other appropriate departments on the economic significance of thermal insulation in national fuel policy.
§ Mr. FreesonThermal insulation of new industrial building is provided for in the Thermal Insulation (Industrial Buildings) Act, 1957 and no studies in this field have been undertaken by the Department.
The economic significance of domestic thermal insulation has been the subject of consultation between the Department and other Departments concerned with the Building Regulations, 1965. Both economic and technical issues are involved and an improvement in the existing standards would be outside the scope of the present powers and would require further legislation. Meanwhile the fuel industries draw the attention of building developers and potential users of heating systems to the importance of thermal insulation and its economic benefits.