§ 96. Mr. SpellerTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he will respond to the European Commission's proposed directive on the provision of information upon the energy efficiency of buildings; and if he will make an assessment of the effect of an energy efficiency initiative upon the generation of employment in the construction industry.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonAt a meeting of the European Council of Energy Ministers on 13 November, the Ministers did not agree that it was appropriate to impose a mandatory requirement for home energy audits. Discussions will, however, continue on a possible Council "recommendation" to improve information on the energy efficiency of buildings.
Experience of such an initiative in Denmark suggests that the effect on employment in the construction industry would depend on a high level of subsidies to householders.