New energy efficiency standards contained in Part L of the Building Regulations, which was due to be published in July, are expected to be less stringent than the industry had predicted. Speculation is rife that the document – whose publication date could not be confirmed by the ODPM at the time of going to press – will not include any regulations for existing homes, and that its energy efficiency requirements designed to "reduce the carbon footprint" of new homes will be "watered down." A Lords inquiry into energy efficiency has criticised the government’s strategy for reducing carbon emissions: "It simply does not have a coherent policy on energy efficiency," argued chair Lady Perry. HBF corporate affairs manager John Slaughter said: "The publication of Part L is an imminent issue we are tracking heavily."