To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what incentives for sustainable construction techniques in housebuilding have been introduced since 1997. (79377)

I have been asked to reply.

The Low Carbon Buildings programme, with an £80 million budget over 3 years, provides grant support for the installation of microgeneration technologies to householders, communities and business including housebuilders.

Furthermore, the Department has introduced a number of fiscal research initiatives since publication of Sir John Egan's reports “Rethinking Construction”, in 1998. These have been aimed at improving the supply chain, enhancing knowledge transfer and encouraging focus upon the wider aspects of sustainability throughout the Construction Industry.