§ Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider more generous financial incentives to local authorities, owner-occupiers and private landlords in order to encourage improving insulation on existing dwellings to cut high energy and heating costs.
§ Sir George YoungOwner-occupiers, private sector landlords and tenants and local authority tenants are eligible for grants under the homes insulation scheme, which is constantly under review. The elderly and severely disabled on low incomes are already entitled to 90 per cent. grants, and others to 66 per cent. grants under the scheme.
My right hon. Friend is currently considering increasing the thickness of loft insulation material eligible for grant under the scheme to come into line with the new building regulation requirements. Local authorities are free to carry out insulation work on their own dwellings within their gross capital allocation and such expenditure may be taken into account in calculating their housing subsidy entitlement.