§ Mr. WicksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many pensioner households not on income support or other means-tested benefits have made use of the home energy efficiency scheme since the 75 per cent. charge was introduced; [17307]
(2) how many pensioner households have benefited from the home energy efficiency scheme since its inception. [17308]
§ Mr. ClappisonA total of 784,803 grants were paid to householders aged 60 or more between 1 April 1994 and 31 January 1997, the latest date for which data are available. Information is not available for the period between 1 January 1991 and 31 March 1994 because age was not then an eligibility criterion. At 31 January 1997, 155W 2,995 grants had been paid at the 25 per cent. rate, introduced on 1 April 1996 to focus the scheme more on the most needy households.