§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of the electricity bills which many old people in all-electric flats have incurred during 40W the past severe winter, he will institute a system of priority grants for double glazing and other forms of insulation of this type of dwelling.
§ Sir George YoungLocal authorities are free to choose the appropriate combination of remedial measures to improve the heating system, its controls and the thermal characteristics of their own dwellings in the light of their own experience and circumstances, and fund these out of their gross capital allocations. In this they can draw on advice in Domestic Energy Note 3 produced by the joint working party on heating and energy conservation.
Electricity boards will advise private householders on the use of their system, its controls and on appropriate thermal insulation measures. The elderly in all tenures, on low incomes, and with uninsulated lofts, can qualify for 90 per cent. grants under the homes insulation scheme for loft insulation and the associated lagging of pipes and tanks. There are no plans to introduce grants for other less cost effective measures such as double glazing.