HC Deb 30 November 1976 vol 921 cc119-20W
Mr. Michael Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he consulted the Agrément Board on the drafting of his Department's Press advertisement entitled "Cavity Wall Insulation—the Facts"; what proposals for inclusion the Board made; and why he did not accept them.

Dr. John A. Cunningham

The Agrçment Board was consulted. Its advice naturally concentrated on the significance of its certificates, and in particular proposed that the advertisement should include a reference to lists of holders of certificates being available from the Board. The Department of the Environment as sponsor of the Agrçment Board was also consulted. It considered that this approach was less than fair to installers who did not hold Agrçment certificates but who might nevertheless be competent. Accordingly, the advertisement was worded to make clear the legal position and the significance of Agrçment certificates, while not implying that only holders of those certificates could safely be employed.

Mr. Michael Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Energy why his Departmental Press advertisement entitled "Cavity Wall Insulation—the Facts" did not list the names of insulation products in receipt of Agrçment certificates, but instead referred householders to the yellow pages of the telephone directory; and whether he will amend this advertisement in any further advice he gives to the public on insulation of houses.

Dr. John A. Cunningham

The Press advertisement on cavity wall insulation which my Department featured as part of its "Save It" campaign in March 1976 was designed to provide unbiased information about cavity wall insulation. While it gave a very full description of the legal position and the significance of the Agrçment certificates in this field, it would have been wrong to imply that only holders of those certificates could safely be employed. My Department has no plans to repeat this particular advertisement in the development of its "Save It" campaign.