§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will authorise grants to local authorities to enable them to install adequate insulation in elderly people's homes whose lives are at risk as a result of exposure.
§ Mr. Kaufman:Although my right hon. Friend has no general power to make grants to local authorities for this purpose he has indicated, in Circular 160/74, that he is ready to give sympathetic consideration to requests by local authorities to give improvement grant for the insulation of roof spaces in cases where elderly persons would otherwise have difficulty in meeting the cost themselves. So far as local authorities' own dwellings are concerned, roof insulation may be installed at the discretion of each council in dwellings occupied by the elderly and this would qualify for Exchequer subsidy.
§ Mr. Cyril Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that each local authority sets up a heating installation unit which would oversee the installation of adequate insulation in all local authority houses.
§ Mr. Kaufman:As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy, informed the House on 9th December the Government are discussing with local authorities how far and in what ways energy savings may be achieved.