§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he will take to ensure that the current number and value of grants paid to householders receiving funding for the home energy efficiency scheme will be maintained. [10800]
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesWe expect the number and value of home energy efficiency scheme grants paid to low-income households to be at least maintained. We intend that better-off elderly householders will have to contribute to the cost after 1 April 1996, and we expect many will take advantage of the substantial discount that the scheme will offer them on the cost of installing basic insulation. Their contributions will supplement the £73 million allocated to the scheme for 1996–97, and we anticipate that considerably more than 400,000 grants will be paid next year. Local authorities will, following implementation of the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995, have a key responsibility to identify appropriate ways of improving the energy efficiency of homes in their areas.