§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether, in the light of current higher continental standards, he is satisfied that the current building regulations for thermal insulation are adequate; and if he has any plans to improve the standards required under those regulations;
(2) whether he is satisfied that the current minimum standards of insulation in industrial premises are adequate; if he proposes to take steps to improve those basic minimum standards; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungThe building regulations prescribe minimum standards of insulation in order to limit energy consumption in buildings. The standards they set for domestic buildings are broadly comparable with standards in other EC countries. For industrial buildings, requirements in the United Kingdom are often more stringent than in those other countries. We have no immediate plans to change our standards.
§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will earmark funds to local authorities so that they can make grants available specifically for home insulation schemes.
§ Mr. GowSome £31.9 million has been earmarked in the current financial year for local authorities to make grants under the homes insulation scheme in England. The allocations to individual local authorities met their bids for funds in full.
§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of grants made available for home insulation schemes in the last year for which figures are available and in the preceding three years.
§ Mr. GowThe figures are published in "Housing and Construction Statistics", copies of which are in the Library. The latest figures are in part 2, No. 14 and those for earlier years are in the annual volume 1972–1982.