asked the Minister for the Environment if, in view of the energy crisis and the urgent need for fuel conservation, a unilateral ban will now be placed on the use of the nine inch cavity blocks for external walls in all new houses and domestic buildings, due to their low heat value.

I have no present intention of introducing such a ban. The present position is that from the 1 July 1979 all grant-aided houses will be required to achieve a U Value of 1.10 or better for all external walls. This performance requirement can be achieved with the use of nine inch cavity or hollow blocks provided sufficient insulating material is included in the construction of the wall.

The draft building regulations also specify a U Value of 1.10 for external walls of new houses but it is left to the builder to determine the manner and materials he will use to reach this standard.

With regard to local authority housing, nine inch cavity or hollow blocks are not generally used in the construction of external walls.

I feel that the setting of a minimum standard of insulation for external walls, as I have done in the case of grant-aided houses and as is set out in the draft building regulations, while leaving the builders the freedom to use whichever materials they choose, is the best procedure for improving the standard of insulation in houses.

The Minister will agree that I asked this question about two years ago and that he gave me the same answer then, and that approximately 10,000 to 12,000 houses of that standard have been built since he became Minister for the Environment. I have two questions for the Minister. Does he talk to the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy?

Yes.

Does he listen to what he says?

Yes.

That is two questions.

In the interests of those who have the misfortune to live in houses which he has sanctioned as Minister for the Environment, will the Minister now do something about the matter and ban what everybody agrees is a bad building practice—the use of the cavity block—irrespective of the insulation standards proposed? It is generally conceded——

No arguments, please.

There is no argument with the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy.

An inter-Departmental committee are looking at the matter. For the Deputy's information, the position in regard to the building regulations in the UK is the same, not that we should copy everything they do.

Is the Minister suggesting that what is good enough for Britain is good enough for us?

No.