HC Deb 17 October 1994 vol 248 cc22-3W
Mr. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now list the funding available to the Energy Saving Trust over each of the next three years, the source of the funding and what steps the Government are taking to increase this funding; if he will make a statement about the future of the Energy Saving Trust and its contribution to achieving the United Nations conference on the environment and development, Rio summit, targets.

Mr. Roberts B. Jones

The Energy Saving Trust is an independent organisation, but I understand that funding for schemes in which it is involved is as follows:

  1. a. Each electricity company in England and Wales has been set standards of performance on energy efficiency by the electricity regulator after consultation with the Trust. OFFER is also proposing standards for Scottish companies. Funding for schemes of up to £22 million in 1993–94 and £25 million over each of the next three years raised from electricity franchise customers will be available to help meet those standards. This includes funding proposed under the Scottish price control.
  2. b. Funding of £1 million in 1994–95 is available for the second year of the Trust's pilot combined heat and power scheme. The level of funding to be raised from gas customers for future schemes is a matter for on the decision of the Director General of Gas Supply. She is currently considering proposals for five schemes submitted by British Gas based on proposals from the trust.
  3. c. In addition the trust expects to raise some £2 million each year until 1997 from a variety of sources, including this Department, which will be spent on their pilot scheme for local energy advice schemes.

The Government are considering how energy efficiency schemes involving the trust might be funded in the future. The Government are committed to their climate change programme which includes energy efficiency measures involving the trust.