§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulations govern(a) testing for radon gas in homes and (b) disclosure of radon gas levels when houses are bought and sold. [169718]
§ Keith HillI have been asked to reply.
There are currently no regulations that govern the testing for radon gas in homes.
Approximately 450,000 radon measurements, mostly Government-funded, have been carried out by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) since 1987. By 1998, every home in England with a greater than 5 per cent. probability of being at or above the radon level of 200 becquerels per cubic metre of air— known as the Action Level—had been offered a free measurement.
The Government have designated areas where new homes should include radon protective measures during their construction to satisfy the requirements of the Building Regulations. This was introduced in 1988 and applied only to parts of Devon and Cornwall, but in 1999 was broadened to include all parts of England and Wales where there is a significant probability of exceeding the Action Level.
It is standard practice for potential home-buyers to carry out a local search. This currently includes information on whether or not the property is located within a radon affected area. Guidance to local 30W authorities from the Local Government Association asks them to provide further information to enquirers where this is the case.
The Government intend to include standard searches in home information packs, legislation for which is in the Housing Bill.