§ Mr. Snapeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings have been provided with noise insulation under the Land Compensation Act 1973 in each of the years since the Act came into force; and what was the cost to public funds in each year.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI have been asked to reply.
699WThe hon. Member is presumably referring to insulation provided under the Noise Insulation Regulations 1973 and 1975, made under section 20 of the Land Compensation Act 1973. These regulations provide for the insulation in certain circumstances of dwellings against increased road traffic noise and against road construction noise.
Information is not readily available in the form requested but cumulative totals of the number of dwellings insulated since the Regulations were introduced as a result of trunk road and motorway schemes are as follows:
Cumulative number of dwellings insulated up to 1 April 1976 2,000 up to 1 April 1977 9,000 up to 1 April 1978 16,000 up to 1 April 1979 20,500 (figures correct to nearest 500) Figures up to 1 April 1980 are not yet available but it is estimated that well in excess of 22,000 dwellings have now been insulated. Similar figures for local authority road schemes could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The total annual cost to public funds of implementing the regulations cannot be estimated since the cost of insulation work is normally incorporated in the total cost of a road scheme, but it now costs between £800 and £1,000 to insulate the average dwelling.