§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the effect of changes to the home energy efficiency scheme on pensioner households. [21049]
§ Mr. ClappisonAll householders aged over 60 remain entitled to grants under this successful high-quality scheme. Those on low incomes or receiving disability benefits will continue to be eligible for 100 per cent. grants for better insulation of their homes and for energy advice. From 1 April, better-off householders over 60 will be entitled to free advice, and to insulation measures at a substantial discount.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) requests for information and (b) applications for grants were made under the home energy efficiency scheme in (i) February 1995, (ii) February 1996, (iii) March 1995 and (iv) March 1996 to the latest available date. [21261]
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesThe table shows the numbers of requests for information received by Eaga Ltd. the scheme managers, and the numbers of grants claimed.
Month Inquiries handled by Eaga Ltd. Grant claims February 1995 27,322 42,801 February 1996 53,874 58,551 March 1995 18,805 32,390 March 1996 (until 8th) 12,605 27,225
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many home energy efficiency scheme(a) applications and (b) grants have been made since 1 April 1995 to the latest available date; [21262]
(2) how many households have had work carried out under the home energy efficiency scheme since 1 April 1995 to the latest available date. [21263]
§ Mr. JonesFrom 1 April 1995 to 8 March 1996, 602,791 home energy efficiency scheme grant claims in respect of work completed were received by Eaga Ltd. Applications to installers for work to be done are not centrally recorded. In the same period, Eaga Ltd. received 330,000 inquiries about the scheme.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the waiting list of applications for home energy efficiency scheme grants which have been received but have yet to be processed at the latest available date. [21264]
§ Mr. JonesI estimate that installers now have, on average, about 18 weeks, work from people who have registered an interest in the home energy efficiency scheme.
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§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money from the 1996–97 home energy efficiency scheme budget will be used to fund work where the application was made on or before 31 March; and how many grants will be paid for in this way. [21287]
§ Mr. JonesI estimate that up to 210,000 claimants may have registered an interest by 31 March 1995. If all of them are eligible for grants under the present rules, up to £34 million of the 1996–97 budget could be spent.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) in how many cases where applications for home energy efficiency scheme grants have been approved the work has not yet been carried out; [21265]
(2) what proportion of households who successfully apply for home energy efficiency scheme grant in (a) the third quarter of financial year 1995–96 and (b) the fourth quarter of financial year 1995–96 will have the work carried out within financial year (i) 1995–96 and (ii) 1996–97. [21266]
§ Mr. JonesI understand that over 200,000 people who have inquired about grants are waiting for work to be done. The table gives the information requested about times of inquiry and estimated payment of grant.
Percentage Period of enquiry Work completed in 1995–96 Work completed in 1996–97 Third quarter of 1995–96 95 5 Fourth quarter of 1995–96 25 75
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of home energy efficiency scheme grants made in(a) financial year 1994–95 and (b) financial year 1995–96 to the latest available date, were made to people who will no longer be eligible for a full grant after 1 April. [21267]
§ Mr. JonesI estimate that in 1994–95, 33 per cent. of all home energy efficiency scheme grants were paid to people aged over 60 who did not also claim an income-related benefit, and the equivalent figure for 1995–96 is likely to be about 45 per cent. I expect the proportion to fall in future.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the national average waiting time for(a) processing applications for home energy efficiency scheme grants and (b) carrying out work under the home energy efficiency scheme once an application was approved, in each month of 1995 and each month of 1996 to the latest available date; [21268]
(2) what was the average waiting time in each region of England and in Scotland and Wales for (a) processing applications for home energy efficiency scheme grants and (b) carrying out work under the home energy efficiency scheme once an application was approved in each month of 1995 and each month of 1996 to the latest date. [21269]
§ Mr. JonesThe information requested is not available on a regional basis. National data are given in the table. Average waiting times nationally, allowing for seasonal140W variations in demand, are not significantly longer this winter than last, despite the recent increase in demand for the scheme.
Month Mean time from inquiry to work completed (weeks) 1995 January 14 February 12 March 9 April 8 May 7 June 6 July 6 August 7 September 7 October 7 November 8 December 8 1996 January 12 February 14 March 18