Insulation Grants (Hansard, 19 July 1982)

§ Mr. Skinner
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many (a) pensioners and (b) disabled people received insulation grants in 1980, 1981 and the nearest available date in 1982.

§ Sir George Young
The information available for England is as follows:

Number of 90 per cent. grants paid to the elderly on low incomes^* Number of 90 per cent. grants paid to the severely disabled on low incomes†

(000's) (000's)

1980 21.1 —

1981 84.2(P) —

1982 (first quarter) 23.5(P) 0.4(P)

^* 90 per cent. grants were introduced for the elderly on low incomes on 26 August 1980, that is, men over 65 and women over 60 who are in receipt of supplementary pension, rent rebate, rent allowance or rate rebate.

†90 per cent. grants were extended to the severely disabled on low incomes on 31 December 1981, that is, persons in receipt of supplementary allowance, rent rebate, rent allowance or rate rebate; who, or one of whose dependants, are also in receipt of mobility allowance, attendance allowance or constant attendance allowance.

P=Provisional.

For everyone else the standard rate of grant is 66 per cent. and some pensioners and disabled people will have received such grants but separate figures for them are not available.

§ Mr. Skinner
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps she is taking to make information regarding insulation grants easily accessible to pensioners and disabled people.

§ Sir George Young
Following the introduction of the 90 per cent. grants in August 1980 for the elderly on low incomes, posters and free leaflets were distributed for use by local authorities, post offices and voluntary organisations in contact with the elderly; feature articles and radio tapes were distributed for use at the media's discretion; and there was a television campaign in October 1980.
The extension of the 90 per cent. grants to the severely disabled in December 1981 was advertised in the national press and specialist magazines, and there was a distribution of revised posters, leaflets and other publicity material.
Future publicity plans are being considered in liaison with the Department of Energy. Posters and leaflets continue to be available on request.

	Number of 90 per cent. grants paid to the elderly on low incomes^*	Number of 90 per cent. grants paid to the severely disabled on low incomes†
	(000's)	(000's)
1980	21.1	—
1981	84.2(P)	—
1982 (first quarter)	23.5(P)	0.4(P)
^* 90 per cent. grants were introduced for the elderly on low incomes on 26 August 1980, that is, men over 65 and women over 60 who are in receipt of supplementary pension, rent rebate, rent allowance or rate rebate.
†90 per cent. grants were extended to the severely disabled on low incomes on 31 December 1981, that is, persons in receipt of supplementary allowance, rent rebate, rent allowance or rate rebate; who, or one of whose dependants, are also in receipt of mobility allowance, attendance allowance or constant attendance allowance.
P=Provisional.
For everyone else the standard rate of grant is 66 per cent. and some pensioners and disabled people will have received such grants but separate figures for them are not available.