§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent he insists on adequate insulation of municipally built housing when local authorities apply for loan sanction.
§ Mr. ChannonAll new local authority housing must comply with the minimum 103W standards of thermal insulation laid down in the Building Regulations 1972. It is open to local authorities to incorporate higher standards and many do.
§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any estimate of the national saving of fuel which would accrue from various forms of insulation of buildings.
§ Mr. ChannonI take it that my hon. Friend has in mind estimates of national saving of fuel which would accrue in buildings of all types, existing as well as new, from, for example, specified additional insulation of roofs or of walls or of windows. I regret that an estimate of this kind is not available.
§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to encourage local authorities to ensure the adequate insulation of public buildings with a view to fuel conservation.
§ Mr. ChannonAdequate thermal insulation is only one of the measures that can help to save fuel used in public buildings, and I trust that local authorities and others concerned are considering this and other ways of doing so. The Government intend to seek new enabling powers in the Health and Safety at Work Bill to be introduced this Session and subsequently will amend the building regulations to make insulation compulsory in new buildings.
§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now in a position to make a statement on his consultative document on thermal insulation.
§ Mr. ChannonFollowing consultations with the local authority associations, two housing development notes on thermal insulation in housing were issued by my Department last month. I have sent copies to my hon. Friend.