To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will issue guidance to local authorities on (a) the fitting of individual thermostats for radiators under the Decent Homes Programme and (b) individual billing of heating for tenants in council housing served by communal heating systems. (318953)

[holding answer 26 February 2010]: The Department will shortly be publishing, jointly with the Department for Energy and Climate Change, the Household Energy Management Strategy setting out the Government’s proposals to improve the energy efficiency of our housing stock to reduce carbon emissions. This will be supported by a range of guidance on which we will be consulting in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions he has had with local authorities on costs arising from the replacement of communal heating systems in council housing stock dating from the 1980s. (318954)

[holding answer 26 February 2010]: There have been no policy discussions between local authorities and the Department for Communities and Local Government regarding the costs involved in replacing communal heating systems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the thermal efficiency of windows fitted during works funded through the Decent Homes Programme. (318955)

[holding answer 26 February 2010]: The Decent Homes standard does not include any specification for the thermal efficiency of windows a landlord may decide to fit as part of their local decent homes programme. The standard is a minimum standard that homes must not fall below not a standard that work should be completed to.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who is responsible for inspecting works conducted on council housing stock to ensure compliance with the decent homes standard; and what mechanisms exist for appeals from residents where works are determined not to have reached the required standard. (318956)

[holding answer 26 February 2010]: A local authority is responsible for ensuring that their social housing stock does not fall below the Decent Homes standard and the works they do comply with the standard. If a council tenant considers that their home falls below the standard they should make a formal complaint to the local authority. If, after this process, they consider the local authority has treated them unfairly then they may make a complaint to the local government ombudsman.