§ Mr. Freesonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider giving grant-aid or tax allowances for the installation of double glazing and other insulation work.
§ Sir Geoffrey Howe[pursuant to his reply, 15 December 1980]: The homes insulation scheme provides grants for loft insulation and associated lagging; it was recently extended to give a higher rate of grant to certain categories of elderly people on low incomes. Entry to a two-year scheme, including grants for insulation of industrial and commercial premises, closed on 30 June last. In certain cases capital works on energy conservation may qualify for regional development grants.
£ million Region 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 Northern 86 77 65 89 120 184 235 154 159 148 North-West 58 49 40 52 88 107 103 66 89 87 South-West 6 6 5 6 10 11 12 9 10 11 Yorkshiire and Humberside 1 3 2 10 16 24 32 31 38 32 East Midlands Ne Ne Ne 2 4 3 3 3 4 4 West Midlands Ne=Negligible. Ne Ne Ne 1 1 1 Ne Ne Ne Ne Notes: (1) All figures are gross and include payments to nationalised industries. The items of expenditure included are:— (i) Investment Grants (regional differential element) from 1970–71 to 1974–75. (ii) Regional Development Grants from 1972–73. (iii) Selective Financial Assistance under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972. (iv) Local Employment Act assistance, including grants, loans and factory building. (v) Regional Employment Premium (discontinued in January 1977). (2) The regional figures exclude certain minor items which cannot readily be broken down below the national level.