§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what estimate he has made of the average change in the proportion of income spent on heating by households who receive home improvements under the(a) new home energy efficiency schemes and (b) new home energy efficiency Plus schemes; [85469]
(2) what estimate he has made of the percentage of households receiving assistance under the (a) new home energy efficiency schemes and (b) new home energy efficiency Plus schemes which will be removed from his Department's definition of fuel poverty. [85470]
§ Mr. MealeThe definition of a fuel poor household applied by academics and organisations active in the sector is one which needs to spend in excess of 10 per cent. of household income in order to achieve a satisfactory indoor heating regime (21°C in the living room and 18°C in the other occupied rooms).
We estimate that the assistance provided under the proposed new home energy efficiency scheme (HEES) and new HEES Plus will reduce the cost of heating an average 3 bedroom semi-detached house to the required standard by between £600 and £1,000 depending on the energy efficiency of the property prior to improvement. Due to the vast large variety of combinations of dwelling 88W type, size, heating and level of insulation, we are not at this stage able to estimate what would be the average improvement under either new HEES or new HEES Plus. For the same reason we are not able to estimate what would be the average improvement in terms of the standard assessment procedure.
The intention of new HEES and new HEES Plus will be to move households out of fuel poverty and we expect to substantially achieve that. The main exception will be those few households (1 per cent. or less) who are eligible for new HEES and live in properties that are both semi-detached/detached and use on-peak electricity or smokeless solid fuel. The size and type of these properties combined with the cost of the fuel used make it difficult to move these households entirely out of fuel poverty. Our consultation paper seeks comments on the best package to assist these households.
§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of (i) the number of homes to be improved, (ii) what the average new grant will be and (iii) the average improvement in terms of the standard assessment procedure rating of homes under the(a) new home energy efficiency schemes and (b) new home energy efficiency plus schemes. [85468]
§ Mr. MealeWe estimate that in the first two years, 2000–01 and 2001–02, the new home energy efficiency scheme (HEES) will assist some 200,000 households, with the average value of grant assisted work being £400 per household.
Over the same period, we estimate that new HEES Plus will assist a further 300,000 low income over-60's households, with the average value of grant assisted work being £700 per household. We are carrying out further work in order to refine these estimates.
§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what proportion of the expenditure announced in "Fuel Poverty: The New Home Energy Efficiency Schemes" to alleviate fuel poverty will be allocated to(a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales;[85471]
(2) how many of the households included in the (a) new home energy efficiency plus schemes and (b) new home energy efficiency schemes will be in (i) England, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Wales; [85472]
(3) how much money is available to be spent on new home energy efficiency schemes and new home energy efficiency plus schemes in the next two years; and what proportion of this will be spent on (a) grants to households and (b) administration and other costs. [85467]
§ Mr. MealeOver 2000–01 and 2001–02, we have allocated a total of £300 million to tackling fuel poverty through energy efficiency improvements. Since this will be a devolved function, we shall shortly consider the most appropriate method of dividing the moneys between the proposed new home energy efficiency scheme (HEES) in England and the separate programmes in Scotland and Wales, taking account of the extent of fuel poverty in each.
We estimate that some 7.7 million households in England will be eligible for assistance under either new HEES or new HEES Plus. In 1996 we estimated that there 89W were between 4.3 million and 5.4 million fuel poor households in England. Our proposed criteria for eligibility therefore go wider than the definition of the fuel poor in order to reach all those households for whom the health risks from cold homes are the greatest.
Administrative costs will be kept as low as possible consistent with ensuring that the most vulnerable households are identified quickly and with ensuring the quality of the service provided. Costs will be determined ultimately by competitive tender. Under the existing scheme some administrative costs are included in installer charges and there is no obligation to target the most vulnerable households.