§ 48. Mrs. Clwydasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he intends to introduce a new scheme for assistance with insulation payments to replace the existing scheme from April 1988; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloWhen the current system of single payments of supplementary benefit for draught-proofing materials ends in April 1988 new arrangements will continue to provide support for the work of the community insulation projects. My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Energy announced on 8 April 1987, at columns223–225, that from April 1988 help with the cost of draught-proofing materials will be provided through the Manpower Services Commission. The category of those eligible will be widened to include all households in receipt of income support, housing benefit or family credit. In the longer term, it is intended to include the cost of draught-proofing materials within a revised home improvement grant system.