HC Deb 18 November 1992 vol 214 cc211-2W
Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the various schemes under which his Department supports the introduction of energy conservation measures in domestic homes, whether owned or tenanted: and if he will indicate the amounts spent by his Department or the former Department of Energy in each of the last three years in each category, and the amounts projected to be spent in the current year and in the next two financial years.

Mr. Maclean

[holding answer 17 November 1992]: Estimates based on information reported by local authorities on the HIP2 form submitted with their 1990 and 1991 housing investment programme bids show capital spending on improved insulation and other energy conservation measures of:

£ million
1989–90 1990–91 1991–92
Local authorities own housing stock 280 230 210
Non local authority dwellings 10 30 30

The figures for local authorities' own housing stock include expenditure under estate action and the general maintenance and improvement programme for local authority housing stock and, in the case of 1991–92, the green house programme in its first year of operation. Expenditure under the latter was £ 10.4 million in that year. Those for non local authority dwellings cover house renovation grants and minor works assistance. Estimates of expenditure for estate action and the general maintenance and improvement programmes for the current year will not be available until the HIP2 forms for 1992 have been processed. No forecasts for the energy efficiency elements of those programmes are available for future years. In addition to those programmes, separate provision is available for the green house programme of £45 million this year, and £5 million in 1993–94.

There is also expenditure on energy efficiency by the Housing Corporation under its programmes for the refurbishment of housing associations' stock, but this is not separately identified.

The home energy efficiency scheme—HEES—came into operation on 1 January 1991. In the three months to the end of the financial year, some £1.3 million was paid out in grants under the scheme. In 1991–92 the figure was some £23 million. The amount available for grant in the current financial year is some £35 million and it is likely that a similar amount will be available next year. No forecast is available for future years.

Prior to the introduction of HEES, expenditure on grants for draughtproofing materials under the energy grant scheme operated under the employment training programme, was £10.8 million in 1989–90 and £9.31 million in 1990–91.

My Department also supports the introduction of energy efficiency measures in domestic properties through information programmes such as "Helping the Earth Begins at Home".