§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what monitoring and evaluation systems she has in place for measuring the progress of EAGA. [33132]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 5 February 2002]: EAGA Partnership is one of the two scheme managers for the Government's Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) in England. HEES is marketed as the Warm Front Team and is the Government's main programme for tackling fuel poverty in the private sector.
DEFRA keeps in regular contact with EAGA Partnership. EAGA is set annual performance targets for each of its three regions. This is further broken down into the six catchment areas used by the Government Offices. These targets include: levels of spend per area and the number of householders to be assisted at the £1,000 and £2,000 grant levels. The number of central heating installations, repairs and replacement boilers to be fitted are also incorporated into the annual targets.
Monthly performance reports assess delivery against targets and covers issues such as customer care and heating capacity. This process is further strengthened by the use of an external contractor, White Young Green, to biannually audit both HEES scheme managers quality control systems.
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§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on what procedures EAGA have for developing liaison with(a) energy advice offices at local level and (b) installers, with particular reference to warm zones. [33131]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 5 February 2002]: EAGA Partnership, is one of the two scheme managers for the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES). It works with the Energy Efficiency Advice Centres (EEACs) throughout England to promote the benefits of the scheme. A number of EEACs undertake the initial home survey where a client's eligibility for assistance under HEES is assessed. The surveyor also recommends the appropriate insulation and heating measures to be installed. The advice centres use EAGA's publicity materials to promote the scheme. EAGA is working to further strengthen its partnership links with EEACs to assist in the delivery of the scheme.
HEES installers are appointed by the scheme managers through open competition following UK Public Procurement Rules and Regulations. Appointments are made on the basis of ability to meet the technical and quality requirements of the scheme and the price tendered. Installers' catchment areas may include areas covered by The Warm Zones pilot initiatives. A number of installers work with EAGA in these areas to refer potential clients to the scheme and are required to follow a code of practice on customer care.