§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial allocations to the Warm Front scheme are planned for 831W 2003–04; whether the Warm Front scheme has regional spending pots; how these have changed; and whether she has set out change in (a) priorities and (b) eligibilities for 2003–04. [122779]
§ Mr. BradshawWe have allocated funding of £156 million for work on fuel poverty in 2003–04 of which £152 million is for Warm Front. The funding is not split into regional pots, though the Scheme Managers are encouraged to target measures in proportion to the level of fuel poverty in an area.
The overall aim of the scheme remains the delivery of energy efficiency improvements to eligible households. A revision to the eligibility criteria for the scheme was made earlier this year to reflect changes in the Benefit System and further changes are being considered to reflect the introduction of Pension Credit in October.