§ Mr. GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many contractors he expects to use under the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme; [131310]
(2) how many contractors used by the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme in the period up to April 2000 are not eligible for the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme; [131311]
(3) what guidance he has issued to determine which contractors are eligible to be considered under the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [131312]
§ Mr. MeacherSome 100 insulation and heating installation contractors are currently appointed to the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme, which started in June. The two Scheme Managers for New HEES expect to appoint up to a further 45 contractors. The New HEES scheme, which started in June, provides vulnerable householders with a comprehensive package of insulation, together with efficient central heating for householders over 60 in age, through grants of up to £2,000. The previous scheme provided householders with one insulation measure per household, mainly draughtproofing, with a maximum grant of £315. Funding for the scheme has been increased from about £76 million last year to around £122 million this year and around £153 million next year.
Some 130 insulation contractors were involved in the previous scheme.
The Scheme Managers for New HEES, Eastern Energy and the EAGA Partnership Ltd., were appointed by my Department following UK Public Procurement Rules and 206W Regulations. They are contractually required to appoint installers using the same competitive tendering process and following the same Regulations. All existing installers were eligible to tender for appointment to the new scheme. Installers have been chosen on the basis of their technical abilities to deal with the wider range of measures provided through New HEES, their ability to meet the quality standard, and the price tendered.
§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many council homes in Shrewsbury and Atcham will benefit from home energy efficiency measures by the end of this year; and if he will make a statement; [131157]
(2) how many households will be helped out of fuel poverty by 2002 through energy-efficiency schemes in Shrewsbury and Atcham. [131137]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Government have introduced a wide range of programmes to tackle poor energy efficiency, one of the main causes of fuel poverty. These are as follows.
From 1 June, the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme provides grants of up to £2,000 for comprehensive packages of insulation and heating improvements. The scheme is aimed at those households which are most vulnerable to cold-related ill health: older people and families on low incomes, and the disabled and chronically sick. HEES has a budget of £275 million for the first two years, which is expected to help some 460,000 households. The scheme is focused on the private sector, where nearly 70 per cent. of the fuel poor in England are found. However, limited funds will still be available for social housing in the first two years.
We have released substantial additional funds to help improve our housing stock; in total some £5 billion is being made available over the lifetime of this Parliament for investment in housing. Most of the additional resources are going to local authorities and will be spent according to the needs and priorities identified in their housing strategy. We estimate that around one third of the money is likely to lead directly or indirectly to improvements in energy efficiency.
Government-funded programmes operated by the Energy Saving Trust improve the energy efficiency of both fuel poor households and others. In addition, some of the Government funded regeneration schemes will help to improve home energy efficiency in specific areas.
To support the installation of energy efficiency measures, from 1 July 1998 the Government have reduced VAT from 17.5 per cent. to 5 per cent. for the installation of energy efficiency materials through Government-funded grant schemes such as HEES. The Spring 2000 budget extended the reduced rate of VAT of 5 per cent. to include the installation of energy saving material in "all" homes and the installation of heating measures through Government funded grant schemes.
The Government are also introducing provisions to enable lessors to claim capital allowances on their investment in boilers, radiators and controls installed in residential properties under the Affordable Warmth Programme. The Programme will operate from 2000 to 207W 2007, with the aim of helping up to 1 million low income households, primarily in the social sector, benefit from improved energy efficiency.
In addition to Government energy efficiency programmes, since 1994, public electricity suppliers have, under the Energy Efficiency Standards of Performance, been required to encourage and assist customers with energy efficiency measures. The new Director General of the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets has, from this year extended these to also include public gas suppliers and the overall size of the programme has been doubled to £50 million a year. 65 per cent. of this expenditure will be allocated to low income households.
Under the Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) 1995, local authorities with housing responsibilities were required to prepare, publish and submit to the Secretary of State an energy conservation report identifying energy conservation measures considered to be practicable, cost-effective and likely to result in a significant improvement in the energy efficiency of all residential accommodation in their area.
208W
Date Court Offence Fine (£) Cost (£) 16 October 1991 Whitehaven magistrates court On 19 May 1991 caused trade effluent, namely chlorinated water, to be discharged into Ben Ghyll, a tributary of the River Ehen from Ennerdale Water Treatment Plant. Contrary to Sections 107(i)(c) and 107(6) of the Water Act 1989 5,000 435 29 January 1992 Darwen magistrates court On 28 May 1991 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into Eagley Brook from Belmont Waste Water Treatment Plant. Contrary to Sections 107(l)(c) and 106(6) of the Water Act 1989 9,000 4,815 20 May 1992 Chorley magistrates court On 4 October 1991 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into Brook Lane Stream, Charnock Richard from Brook Lane Pumping Station. Contrary to Sections 107(i)(c) and 107(6) of the Water Act 1989 6,000 400 1 October 1991 Huyton magistrates court On 28 January 1992 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into Court Hey Brook from surface water outfalls at Court Hey Road. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991 10,000 420 3 February 1993 Ashton Under Lyne magistrates court On 21 September 1992 caused trade effluent to be discharged from Lumb Lane Pumping Station, Droylsden. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991 10,000 510 2 March 1993 Ormskirk magistrates court On 23 April 1992 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into Hurlston Brook from Smithy Lane Pumping Station, Hurlston Green. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991 3,000 250 2 March 1993 Ormskirk magistrates court On 13 August 1992 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into Hurlston Brook from Smithy Lane Pumping Station, Hurlston Green. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991 5,000 250 28 July 1993 Reedley magistrates court On 21 May 1992 caused a discharge from the storm sewage overflow at Burnley Waste Water Treatment Works, Burnley to Walverden Water. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85 (6) of the Water Resources Act 1991 2,000 989 14 September 1993 Leyland magistrates court On 27 April 1992 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into the River Lostock at Lostock Hall, Bamber Bridge, Preston. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991 9,000 860 3 November 1993 Oldham magistrates court On 5 February 1993 caused trade effluent to be discharged into the River Medlock at Waterhead, Oldham. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991 3,000 515 In England, authorities are now reporting annually on the progress being made in implementing the measures identified. Furthermore, we have now asked local authorities to report on their policies and achievements specifically in combating fuel poverty, at the same time as they submit their HECA progress reports. The next HECA progress report from local authorities is due by 31 July 2000.
The energy conservation report prepared by Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council, and their most recent progress report, should be available from the Council.