asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will issue guidance to local authorities and others on the opportunities for job creation programmes involving the provision of home insulation for retirement pensioners.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that guidance has been sent by the Department of Energy to all local authorities and local education authorities on the opportunities for sponsoring projects under the job creation programme, involving roof insulation for publicly owned housing and other buildings. The scheme is directed particularly at the elderly, the physically handicapped, and those in low-income groups. Wider circulation is not proposed, but information about the scheme may be obtained from any JCP area office.