To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps she is taking to promote higher environmental building standards in publicly funded buildings. (97615)

Earlier this year the Government amended the Building Regulations to increase the mandatory standards for energy efficiency. The new measures taken together with changes to strengthen Building Regulations in 2002 improve standards by 40 per cent. These tough new standards which came into effect on 6 April 2006 apply to all new buildings and when building work is carried out in existing buildings

The Building Regulations set minimum standards, but in addition from 1 April 2006, all new homes receiving Government funding will have to meet the new Ecohomes Very Good 2006 standard.