HC Deb 13 April 1984 vol 58 cc414-5W
Mr. Boyes

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of elderly mentally infirm hospital assessment beds provided by all district health authorities in England (a) per 1,000 population of pensionable age, (b) per 1,000 population aged 75 years and over, (c) per 1,000 population aged 85 years and over and (d) in total on 31 March for each year between 1976 and 1982, inclusive.

Mr. John Patten

[pursuant to his reply, 9 April 1984, c. 122]: Beds for the assessment of elderly mentally infirm patients are not specifically identified in centrally collected statistics. Available information is collected in terms of beds in special units or wards for "psychogeriatric assessment" and is given in the table. The definition may exclude some beds used to assess these patients.

energy savings for Community projects could only be collated at disproportionate cost. I will write to the hon. Member with details of individual projects.

Mr. Rost

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he willo provide a schedule of the various EEC funding schemes which offer support for investment related to energy conservation, energy research and development and energy demonstration projects; and if he will specify the criteria for qualification, and what publicity he is giving to prospective United Kingdom applicants to assist take-up.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

European Community Financial support is authorised for projects in the hydrocarbon sector. Under the Community Projects in the Hydrocarbons Sector Scheme, loans are provided for selected projects which promote new technologies in exploration, production, transport and storage of oil and gas. In order to qualify, Community financial support must be shown to be essential to enable the project to go ahead, and the project must be the responsibility of a Community firm or organisation. When the Commission issues its annual invitation to submit projects, the Department issues an explanatory booklet and a press notice inviting applications.

In anticipation of the Council adopting Regulations to authorise further support for energy demonstration projects, the Commission has recently issued an invitation for projects in this area to be submitted. Under this scheme projects in the following categories would be supported: liquefaction and gasification of solid fuels, energy saving, solar energy, biomass and energy from waste, hydroelectric power, wind energy, use of solid fuels, and use of electricity and heat. Qualifying projects must be either a first full scale demonstration, or an industrial pilot project, and be innovative. The Commission have set a closing date of 31 May 1984. As in earlier years, the Department of Energy, in addition to organising press publicity, has issued a comprehensive guidance booklet for prospective applicants. Over 2,600 copies have been sent to interested organisations

In the nuclear field programmes of research currently exist in the following areas: fusion; radioactive waste management, radiation protection and uranium prospecting. In addition financial support is available towards projects concerning the decommissioning of nuclear installations. The criteria applied in the selection of

Title Description Eligibility Publicity
1. Energy Conservation Demonstration Projects Scheme Grants of up to 25 per cent, of capital cost, plus 100 per cent, of monitoring costs, for projects which encourage the spread of energy efficient technology Projects which demonstrate novel applications of energy saving technology Press advertising, Booklets and Project Profiles, Exhibitions, Seminars and Open Days. Articles eg in Energy Management
2. Energy Efficiency Survey Scheme Grants of up to 50 per cent, for short surveys or extended surveys or CHP feasibility studies of organisations' premises (except for dwellings) Organisations in the industrial, commercial and public sectors Press advertising Exhibitions, Conferences, Leaflets
3. Monitoring and Targeting Programme Funding of consultants to undertake the development of energy management monitoring and target-setting systems, in a sample of host companies in selected industrial sectors Companies may apply to their Trade Association to join a sectorally sponsored exercise as a 'host' firm Energy management booklet in preparation
4. Coal Firing Scheme Grants of up to 25 per cent, and loans of up to 50 per cent, to encourage industry to convert to coal firing boilers and equipment Companies in the Industrial and Commercial and Agriculture Sectors (not Public Sector) Energy Management Distribution of (NCB) publicity material
5. Voluntary Organisations Community Insulation Projects Scheme Grants to help with the cost of promoting, preparing and setting up projects to insulate the lofts and draught-proof the homes of those on low incomes Charities and other Voluntary Organisations offering a practical homes insulation service Leaflets, Workshops, Conferences, Publicity at Energy Saver Shows

Copies of booklets and notes issued by the Energy Efficiency Office containing guidance for prospective applicants have been placed in the Library of the House.

The Energy Efficiency Office also issues leaflets on the scope for and help available to domestic consumers to use their energy more efficiently and copies of these have been placed in the Library of the House.