Written question asked by Helen Clark (Labour) on Wednesday, 1 December 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 10 January 2000. It was answered by Michael Meacher (Labour) on Monday, 10 January 2000 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will expand the new Home Energy Efficiency Scheme to include energy efficiency improvements to the fabric of buildings constructed with solid walls. - Including ref to 19 October 1999, 336 c491W.

Answer: Mrs. Brinton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will expand the new Home Energy Efficiency Scheme to include energy efficiency improvements to the fabric of buildings constructed with solid walls. [101426] Mr. Meacher: Households eligible for the New Homes Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) who live in properties with solid walls will receive loft insulation and draught proofing under the scheme, to improve the energy efficiency of the building fabric. With regard to the solid wall insulation, as I detailed in the answer I gave on Tuesday 19 October 1999, Official Report, column 491W, this does not appear to be appropriate for the packages of improvements to be offered under the new HEES. Therefore external or internal wall insulation measures will not be available under the scheme. Instead the New HEES packages available for these solid wall properties include higher levels of heating improvements than those for cavity walled homes, so providing similar reductions in fuel costs for both types of property.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 101426; 342 c8W
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Conservation Energy Housing improvement Insulation Warm front scheme