§ 30. Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress his Department is making in its talks on the problem of those houses and flats which have only one source of heating; and whether he will treat them as urgent, in view of the high and increasing cost of domestic electricity.
§ Mr. ArmstrongI can assure the hon. Member that the Department is giving urgent attention to the problems arising with heating in some public sector dwellings as a result of high electricity bills. I would refer the hon. Member to my comments during the recent Adjournment debate on 20th April on council housing and insulation—[Vol. 948, c.853–64]—and the answer I gave him on 8th March 1978.—[Vol. 945, c. 637.] At present, there is nothing further I can add.
§ 31. Mr. Formanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Government's policy with regard to the installation of domestic heating controls.
§ Mr. ArmstrongThe Government advocate the installation of domestic heating controls where these will be cost effective for the householder. A leaflet was issued last year. I am sending the hon. Member a copy.