HC Deb 18 March 1997 vol 292 cc516-7W
Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the scope for straw bale house construction in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [20270]

Mr. Clappison

The Department of the Environment has made no assessment of the use of straw bales for house construction in the UK. However, at the end of last year, staff of the Building Research Establishment inspected a single storey demonstration project in Belfast and it has since agreed to undertake some monitoring studies.

Mr. Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the(a) environmental and (b) financial benefits of straw bale built housing; what Government training opportunities are available in this construction method; and if he will make a statement. [20271]

Mr. Clappison

The Department of the Environment has made no assessment of the environmental and economic benefits of straw bale built housing. There are no Government training opportunities available at present.