HC Deb 30 November 2000 vol 357 cc765-7W
Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what additional money he has allocated to the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme; and if he will make a statement in respect of eligible insulation and central heating measures. [139668]

Mr. Meacher

The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme provides grants of up to £2,000 for comprehensive packages of insulation and heating improvements. The scheme is aimed at those households who are most vulnerable to cold-related ill health: older people and families on low incomes, and the disabled and chronically sick. The scheme is focused on the private sector where nearly 70 per cent. of the fuel poor in England are found.

Following the Comprehensive Spending Review this summer, the budget for the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme has been set at:

  • 2000–01: £122 million
  • 2001–02: £153 million
  • 2002–03: Increased by £14 million to £167 million
  • 2003–04: Increased by £18 million to £171 million.

The scheme provides packages of measures drawn from the following list:

Insulation measures

Loft insulation

Draughtproofing doors and windows

Cavity wall insulation

Hot water tank insulation

Compact fluorescent lamps

Heating system measures

Gas room heaters with thermostat controls

Electric storage heaters

Closed solid fuel fire cassette

Electric dual immersion water heater with foam insulated tank

Timer controls for electric space and water heaters

Central heating through electric or gas systems (only for low income households aged 60 years or more).

The package offered is tailored to the conditions of the individual property.

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to extend the entitlement to home energy efficiency scheme plus grants to those receiving the savings element of the proposed Pension Credit. [140634]

Mr. Meacher

At present, all households aged 60 or more and in receipt of Income Support, Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit or income-based Job Seekers Allowance are eligible for the higher tier of grants available under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) for England. This higher tier is in recognition of the particular difficulties faced by low-income older households. In total, we estimate that over 3.7 million older households—some 60 per cent. of all such households—are eligible for grants up to £2,000.

We continue to monitor carefully all aspects of HEES and will consider in due course whether the eligibility criteria should be extended to include the Pension Credit when it is introduced in 2003.