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Oral Answers
26 JANUARY 1987
I understand the position if that is not the case. If that is the case, following the debate in the House, will it be left in the hands of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and the CEGB to make the final decision on safety? Is the Minister satisfied with that as both those bodies seem to operate in a cloud of secrecy most of the time?
Mr. Buchanan-Smith: I am sorry that the hon. Gentleman did not take the advice that I gave earlier. I suggest that he takes that advice. Even knowing the assiduity of the hon. Gentleman, I cannot believe that he could have read the whole report in just one hour and 45 minutes.
Mr. D. E. Thomas: Now that the planning process has reached publication, can the Minister tell the House the Department's intentions for the future CEGB proposals following on from Sizewell and other Magnox sites, including Trawsfynydd in my constituency?
Mr. Buchanan-Smith: Let us deal with Sizewell first.
Mr. Haynes: I should have thought that it would have been more appropriate for the Secretary of the State to be present to answer such important questions. Bearing in mind that the report has been produced by an inspector by way of consultation when will other people be consulted about nuclear power?
Mr. Buchanan-Smith: I should have hoped that the hon. Gentleman would have regarded himself as one of the representatives of the people. He will have an opportunity to take part in the debate in the House. I am sorry that, from his own mouth, he has said that he feels that he is not able to represent the people properly. If that is his view, it may not be the proper one.
Mr. Kennedy: Will the Minister and his departmental colleagues resist the temptation, which seems to be with him this afternoon, of suggesting that the acceptability of a balanced provision of energy resources, by nuclear or other means, necessitates acceptance of a report which points to the advisability of constructing a PWR? On the question asked by the right hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn), relating to PWR, why does it appear that the Government wish to accept American technology which the Americans do not believe is safe enough for their people?
Mr. Buchanan-Smith: The hon. Gentleman asks me not to yield to temptation. That is precisely what I have done this afternoon.
Mr. Orme: May I press the Minister on the question of the debate? He and the House will agree that it is important to have a debate in the country as well as in the House. Can he give us some idea of the Government's thinking on the date for that debate?
Mr. Buchanan-Smith: I understand fully what the right hon. Gentleman says. It is a matter for the business managers of the House, and I have no doubt that they will have noted what he said.
District Heating (Basildon)
8. Mr. Amess asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the cost-effectiveness of the district heating systems in Felmores and Langdon Hills in Basildon.
Oral Answers
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Mr. David Hunt: The Government recognise the important contribution made by district heating schemes where they are commercially viable. The operation of the two schemes mentioned by my hon. Friend is, however, a matter for the Commission for the New Towns, which is answerable to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.
Mr. Amess: Is the Minister aware that many of my constituents in the Felmores and Langdon Hills area of Basildon are completely dissatisfied with the district heating system, believing it to be expensive and inefficient? In the light of the great success enjoyed by Sid, will my hon. Friend do everything in his power to encourage the Commission for the New Towns to install individual gas- fired central heating?
Mr. Hunt: I very much regret the problems experienced by my hon. Friend's constituents. I understand that the former New Town Development Corporation asked the Department of the Environment to consider agreeing in principle to the replacement of the Felmores estate district heating system with independent systems for each dwelling. Last summer, the Department of the Environment invited the Commission for the New Towns to carry out an analysis of that option and of the alternative of retaining the district heating systems with improvements. That analysis is still awaited.
Conservation
9. Mr. Rowlands asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals he has to expand energy conservation measures for the domestic consumer.
Mr. David Hunt: As well as supporting the continuing expansion of community insulation projects, which have now insulated more than 300,000 homes, my Department continues actively to promote the cost-effective energy efficiencymeasures which all householders should take to benefit from reduced fuel bills.
Mr. Rowlands: Is it not rather a odd way to celebrate energy efficiency year by removing loft insulation grants from millions of householders? Is the Minister aware that more than half our households have inadequte loft insulation, even by current standards? Is he aware that 12.5 million households lack effective draught-proofing and that 10.5 million households lack cavity wall insulation? What new measures will the Government introduce to deal with the backlog?
Mr. Hunt: The hon. Gentleman is distorting the position. He should be aware that, on 19 December, my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing, Urban Affairs and Construction announced that he would make available up to a further £1.5 million of resources, which is being distributed to councils in England that had exhausted their present allocations. But with nearly 90 per cent. of accessible roofs in England insulated, the Minister decided to concentrate the scheme's assistance on those who have most difficulty in affording the cost of loft insulation. Therefore, he announced that he would be introducing a new scheme, withdrawing the general grant of 66 per cent., but extending the availability of the more generous 90 per cent. grant to all householders who received housing benefit or supplementary benefit.
I should have thought that the hon. Gentleman would realise that that change will assist greatly families with low
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