HC Deb 11 December 1992 vol 215 cc829-30W
Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward proposals to abolish the client contribution element of the home energy efficiency scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Number of homes Grant paid £000s Grant paid as percentage of total (rounded)
Scotland 34,391 3,762 15.8
North East 14,822 1,724 7.2
North West 25,199 3,401 14.3
East Midlands 19,288 3,057 12.9
London 6,166 804 3.4
South East 10,011 1,593 6.7
South West 8,145 1,227 5.2
Wales 10,651 1,501 6.3
West Midlands 26,650 3,780 15.9
Yorkshire and Humberside 22,683 2,904 12.2

Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for the environment what has been the expenditure on the home energy efficiency scheme in each region; and what was the budget allocation for each region in each year since the scheme began.

Mr. Maclean

There are no regional allocations under the home energy efficiency scheme; allocations are made to individual installers. In 1991–92, the first full year of operation, the expenditure in each of the scheme's administrative regions was:

Grant paid
£000s
Scotland 3,762
North East 1,724
North West 3,401
East Midlands 3,057
London 804
South East 1,593
South West 1,227
Wales 1,501
West Midlands 3,780
Yorkshire and Humberside 2,904

Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of jobs undertaken under the home energy efficiency scheme have cost more than the maximum grant figure; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean

The grant maxima for allowable work under the home energy efficiency scheme were increased on 1 April this year. Since then the proportions of claims in excess of the grant maxima have been, for draughtproofing 21 per cent. and for loft insulation 14 per cent.

Mr. Maclean

The Energy Efficiency Office has received representations recommending the abolition of the client contribution. Abolition would mean that the size of individual claims for grant would increase and that fewer households could benefit overall from the scheme.

Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many households have been assisted under the home energy efficiency scheme in each region in each year since the scheme began; and what level of expenditure, as a total and percentage of the national total, has been undertaken by region.

Mr. Maclean

For 1991–92, the only full year of the scheme so far, the figures are: