§ Mr. Rostasked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on co-ordination between the Department of Energy and the Department of Health and Social Security of the Government's policy towards promoting energy efficiency in buildings occupied by low-income households.
The Prime MinsterIn the short term, the most effective way to help low income households with their heating bills is through the social security system. The Department of Health and Social Security provides such assistance through the weekly scale rates for those on supplementary benefit; on top of that, heating additions are now worth about £400 million a year, which is £140 million more in real terms than when this Government took office. Meanwhile, the Government's energy efficiency campaign provides advice for all households on how to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. In addition, the Government-funded voluntary sector insulation projects, which provide a free or low-cost basic insulation service for low income households, doubled in number during 1985 and are expected to double again during Energy Efficiency Year. I am satisfied with co-ordination between the Departments of Energy and of Health and Social Security on these respective programmes.