HC Deb 20 July 1978 vol 954 cc359-60W
Mr. Crawford

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list those approved companies producing blankets, rolls and mats from mineral wool for loft insulation for use in homes;

(2) if he will list those approved companies producing blankets, rolls, and mats from glass fibre for loft insulation for use in homes;

(3) what procedures his Department observes in the vetting of imported materials for loft insulation for use in homes;

(4) what proposals he has for using the Agrément Board in the assessment of insulation materials for loft insulation for use in homes;

(5) what are the proposed assessment procedures of his Department for the granting of official approval for mineral fibre as loft insulation for use in homes under the Homes Insulation Bill grants scheme;

(6) what are the proposed assessment procedures of his Department for the granting of official approval for cellulose fibre as loft insulation for use in homes under the Homes Insulation Bill grants scheme;

(7) what are the proposed assessment procedures of his Department for the granting of official approval for glass fibre as loft insulation for use in homes under the Homes Insulation Bill grants scheme.

Mr. Armstrong

Whilst the Department cannot undertake responsibility for quality control of individual insulation products, it is obviously desirable that householders who seek to take advantage of grant-aid under the Homes Insulation Bill should only use products which are both safe and effective. The draft scheme circulated to the House during the passage of the Bill proposed immediate acceptance, for grant purposes, of the more common, well-tried forms of insulation, but would have required independent approval by the Agrément Board, or compliance with any British Standard for the time being in force, for other products.

On further consideration, however, I feel that this procedure would not offer adequate protection for the householder from, for example, unsatisfactory imported products, and further discussions are therefore being held urgently with the Agrément Board and with manufacturers of the various forms of insulation material. I hope that decisions will be taken in the very near future and will ensure that they are made public at the earliest opportunity.