HC Deb 26 February 1997 vol 291 cc221-2W
Mr. Wicks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new proposals he has for improving the home energy efficiency scheme. [17430]

Mr. Clappison

[holding answer 24 February 1997]: My hon. Friend the Minister for Construction, Planning and Energy Efficiency announced last December that this popular grant scheme, which has already improved more than 2 million homes occupied by the most vulnerable families, is to be upgraded. The changes, due to take effect in July this year, will make the scheme more flexible and capable of delivering even greater social and environmental benefits. The key feature of the new scheme will be the ability of eligible householders to select a package of work best suited to their own homes from a wider range of energy-efficiency measures.