§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that prospective purchasers of new homes are made aware of their energy efficiency through the standardised assessment procedure rating. [107645]
§ Ms Beverley HughesIt is already a requirement of the building regulations that a person building a new home should calculate the energy rating of the dwelling using the Standard Assessment Procedure, and notify the 617W rating to the relevant building control body. My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning announced last year that the building regulations will be amended to require the builder, in addition, to put up a notice of the energy rating in the new home. My Department is currently working on the details of the amendment to the regulations.
Separately, my hon. Friend announced in October last year proposals to require any person marketing a home to provide a pack of standard information and documents for prospective buyers. We envisage that this pack will include an energy rating, calculated in accordance with the Standard Assessment Procedure.