§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether funds provided under the urban programme can be used for home insulation schemes;
(2) whether funds under the inner city partnership schemes can be used for some insulation programmes; and, if not, whether he will extend the schemes to cover this activity.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergUrban programme funds can, in principle, be used for any schemes that make an effective contribution to the needs of inner cities.
Belgium 25 per cent, grants up to £400 To cover insulation of windows, walls, floors, roofs, and hot water systems. Denmark Single family dwellings: 50 per cent, tax credits up to £265 provided the work costs more than £90. To cover insulation of windows, walls, floors, roofs, boilers, and hot water systems; weather-sealing; installation of controls. Flats: 30 per cent, grant up to £175. Germany 25 per cent, grant on works costing £970–£2,900 or 10 per cent, tax allowance. To cover insulation of windows, walls, ceilings, roofs and hot water systems; weather-sealing; improved controls and heating alliances. Netherlands 30 per cent, grants up to £910 (£550 estimated average cost per dwelling). To cover insulation of windows, walls and roofs. France Grants, loans and tax concessions are available. Ireland There is no programme specially for energy conservation. 66 per cent, grants up to £400 for renovation work can include insulation measures. Italy There is no programme specifically for energy conservation. Sterling figures, which are conversions for European Units of Account at January 1978 prices, are approximate. We have no information of the aggregate annual expenditure except for grant under the Homes Insulation Scheme which totalled £3.6 million in 1978 and £16.2 million in 1979.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how insulation standards for buildings in the United Kingdom compare with the standards
434W
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will extend the home insulation scheme to provide 100 per cent. grants to poor households, including the chronically sick and disabled and families with young children receiving social security benefits;
(2) if he will now extend the home insulation scheme to cover double glazing and wall insulation.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergWe have no plans to extend the scheme other than those announced in the reply by my hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Morris) on 27 March.—[Vol. 981, c.681.]
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Environment what countries of the European Economic Community, including the United Kingdom, provide financial incentives for home insulation in the form of grants, loans, or tax relief, respectively; and what is the aggregate annual expenditure from public funds in respect of grants and loans.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe latest details I have available are those for 1978 (at January 1978 prices):
required in other countries of the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe proposed higher standards for new dwellings upon 435W which my right hon. Friend has recently consulted are broadly in line with those in EEC countries with a similar climate to ours. Reliable comparative information on standards for other buildings is not available, but the European Commission is conducting a study.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homes were insulated under the homes insulation scheme in 1979; and what is the estimated figure for the current year.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergIt is estimated that about 390,000 grants were paid under the homes insulation scheme in England during 1979. The allocation for 1980–81 of £.12.5 million (at outturn prices) and the further allocation of £4.2 million for higher grants to the elderly on low incomes are sufficient to provide between 300,000 and 400,000 grants, depending on the average level of the individual grants paid.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies have been made by his Department to determine what percentage of grants under the home insulation scheme have been taken up by pensioner households.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergNone.