Housing (Hansard, 2 July 2001)

§ Lynne Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his definition is of decent in the context of housing standards. [1128]

§ Ms Keeble
A decent home must be above the current statutory minimum standard for housing (the fitness standard); be in a reasonable state of repair; have modern facilities and services; and provide a reasonable degree of thermal comfort.
Guidance has been issued providing more detail for social landlords on how the elements of the definition should be interpreted. A copy has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

§ Mr. Sanders
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the target outputs for SRB-funded housing units between 1997 and 2001. [1741]

§ Ms Keeble
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 26 June 2001,Official Report, column 56W.

Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to encourage housing associations to improve the energy efficiency of their(a) existing properties and (b) new build schemes; what plans he has to support district heating schemes; and what plans he has to encourage housing associations to use solar energy in new build social housing. [1112]

§ Ms Keeble
My Department, together with the Housing Corporation, is taking a number of measures to improve the energy efficiency of registered social landlords' (RSLs) properties.
For existing properties, the Housing Corporation's Performance Standards require RSLs to assess the energy efficiency of their housing stock and, through planned improvement work, to help local authorities to meet their obligations under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995.
16W
The Housing Corporation is also promoting the adoption of sustainable development action plans in the RSL sector. These will require RSLs to adopt environmental good practice across a range of activities including refurbishment, management and maintenance of their existing stock. An environmental management system specifically designed for RSLs is being developed and will be launched later this year. In addition, the Housing Corporation's Innovation and Good Practice (IGP) programme will continue to fund projects that raise awareness of environmental considerations. A number of good practice guides and tools to help RSLs address energy management for affordable warmth and energy services has already been developed.
For new build schemes and the rehabilitation of existing dwellings, the Housing Corporation's Scheme Development Standards specify a minimum Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) energy rating which must be achieved. In its guidance the Corporation strongly encourages the achievement of SAP ratings above the minimum level.
In addition, from l April this year, RSLs have been required to use a recently developed system of Housing Quality Indicators (HQIs) in planning new schemes. HQIs provide a basis for assessing the quality of schemes against 10 key aspects of design, including energy efficiency and sustainability.
The Housing Corporation is investigating the potential for RSLs to use Combined Heat and Power (CHP) schemes as part of its wider promotion of energy efficiency. Most CHP schemes are on a scale which is not generally suitable for RSL properties, but the Corporation is currently participating in an EU-wide project to scope the potential for micro-CHP systems. We will consider the scope for greater use of CHP in relation to RSL properties in the light of the fundings in this report.
The Housing Corporation is actively encouraging RSLs to consider the use of Photovoltaic (PV) roofs and solar water heating. A number of RSLs now use these systems and a network of RSLs with an interest in PV roofs is being established to address areas of concern and to develop good practice guidance on the use of PV roof and solar water heating systems within the sector. However, at present the costs are high with conventional systems.