§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made by her Department of the cost and potential savings at different initial levels of energy efficiency of property of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme; what assessment has been made by her Department of the cost effectiveness of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme in reducing fuel poverty amongst owner-occupiers and private sector tenants; what(a) assessment she has made, (b) discussions she has had or plans to have and (c) representations she has received in relation to the research conducted by the Institute of Fiscal Studies on the cost-effectiveness of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme; and what assessment (i) has been made and (ii) is planned of the effects of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme on reducing fuel poverty (A) to date and (B) under the fuel poverty strategy. [109067]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 14 April 2003]: The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) is now marketed as The Warm Front Team, and is the Government's main programme for tackling fuel poverty in the private sector in England. The Scheme was launched in June 2000. Warm Front provides insulation and heating measures depending upon the needs of the householder and the property type.
You ask what assessments we have made of the Warm Front and its impact on reducing fuel poverty. Warm Front has now been in existence for over two and a half years and we are currently carrying out a review to look what it has delivered, the issues faced, solutions found, examples of best practice and future priorities. This
180WTable B shows the numbers of projects for which my Department has offered or provided capital support in each financial year from 1997–98.
Table A—Part IIA regulatory activity1 LA determinations2 Special sites3 Remediation statements4 Special site inspections5 2001–02 33 0 8 31 2002–03 21 14 15 30 2003–04 4 0 1 2 1investigation and remediation of land affected by contamination also takes place as part of redevelopment and regeneration, outside Part IIA 2sites determined as "contaminated land" under Part IIA, following detailed investigation 3"contaminated land" for which the Environment Agency, not the LA, is the enforcing authority 4"contaminated land" for which appropriate remediation has been formally secured by the LA or the Agency under Part IIA, without a remediation notice 5cases where the Environment Agency has agreed to inspect on behalf of the LA, with a view to possible determination of the site as "contaminated land" and designation as a special site review has included discussions with key stakeholders to assess progress and to help the debate on progress to achieving our overall goal of an end to fuel poverty.
Our Warm Front review is looking at the scope and targeting of the scheme, the measures offered— including their cost effectiveness—and practical issues surrounding delivery. The review is also looking at issues around SAP improvements to properties under the scheme. Overall, we are looking both to identify the impact on properties once measures have been installed and potential savings for householders.
We are also funding a piece of research to look specifically at the adverse health impact that can be impacted by fuel poverty, and the effect of assistance under Warm Front. The study was launched during 2002 with investigations being run over two winters. The findings of both these pieces of work will be published once completed.
The Department is aware of the report undertaken by the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IPS), although we have received no representations on it. The report highlights a number of interesting issues surrounding the targeting and impact of Warm Front and is a helpful contribution to the debate.
Government's first annual report on progress since the launch of the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy was published on 4 March. This provides an update on the number of households in fuel poverty, taking account of initial findings from the English House Condition Survey 2001. It also provides an update on programmes undertaken to help alleviate fuel poverty.