HC Deb 17 June 1980 vol 986 cc500-1W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what delay he expects there to be in the implementation of the new standards of insulation for walls; what is his Department's definition of the cost-effectiveness of the proposals for walls and roofs; why roofs were omitted from the proposals; and if he has any plans to include roofs in the proposals in the near future.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

[pursuant to his reply, 16 June 1980. c. 398]: My right hon. Friend hopes soon to make regulations improving the thermal insulation of new dwellings. New standards for roofs can be brought in immediately, but so far as walls are concerned, designers and builders will need time to adapt to new techniques and solve technical problems. The new standards show a discounted return sufficiently high to justify their cost.