§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action her Department has taken since 14 March to tackle delays experienced by householders under the home energy efficiency scheme. [4768]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 18 July 2001]: The delays in the installation and repair of central heating systems under the home energy efficiency scheme are due to the national shortage of qualified gas heating engineers. The Department continues to encourage the two scheme managers—the Eaga Partnership Ltd. and Eastern HEES Ltd.—in their efforts to recruit additional installers as an interim measure. These efforts have led to substantial improvements in the rate of work with over 2,800 boiler installations in June 2001, compared to 590 in January.
But the longer-term solution to the problem is to increase the pool of trained engineers. Over the next 12 months my Department is funding training courses that will provide 800 additional qualified engineers to work under the scheme. The first batch will join the scheme in November. This is currently the largest gas engineer training programme in the UK.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many boiler repairs and replacements have so far been completed632W under the home energy efficiency scheme in Dorset; and what the current average time clients have to wait for the installation and repair of heating systems is. [4769]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 18 July 2001]: The table identifies the number of boiler repairs and replacements completed since June 2000 in Dorset. Following the completion of works installers typically take between 6–8 weeks to submit an invoice for payment. It is likely that work has already been completed in some of these households. The time taken should significantly decrease following the recent appointment of nine further heating companies taking the total number for Dorset to 12:
Number fitted and invoiced Number with installers Average lime taken in months1 Boiler repairs 230 80 3.3 Boiler replacements 19 109 9 New boilers 60 223 9 1Boilers are only replaced once an attempt to repair has failed. The average time shown therefore includes the period taken to attempt a repair.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the applications by(a) Mr. and Mrs. Griffiths of Burton, Dorset, (b) Mrs. Donovan of Ferndown, Dorset and (c) Mrs. Deary of St. Leonard's, Dorset, under the home energy efficiency scheme in June 2000 to be actioned; and if she will make a statement. [4763]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 18 July 2001]: The home energy efficiency scheme is managed in the south-west of England by the Eaga Partnership Ltd. I have asked it to report on these three applications and will write to the hon. Member shortly.
§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is taking to examine the progress of EAGA in delivering the Government's home heating policy. [4577]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 18 July 2001]: The Department maintains a close watch for the performance of both the home energy efficiency scheme managers—Eaga Partnership Ltd. and Eastern HEES Ltd. This includes both regular management reports and the use of an external contractor—White Young and Green—to audit the systems operated by the two scheme managers to ensure their effectiveness. This audit includes physical inspections of work as well as sample surveys of HEES clients and is designed to identify measures to improve the quality of service to householders applying to the scheme.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people in each of the four areas of England established for the purpose of administering the home energy efficiency scheme have had(a) new boilers fitted and (b) boilers repaired since June 2000; and how many are waiting for (i) boiler repairs and (ii) new boilers. [4765]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 18 July 2001]: The table sets out the number of households that have had work completed and those where orders have been placed.
633W
Number of households that require new heating systems including boiler: Number of households that required repairs to existing heating systems: Scheme Manager Fitted and invoiced Order with installer Repairs completed and invoiced (of which require replacement boiler) Those awaiting repair1 Those awaiting replacement boiler1 Lot 1—London and south east 1,461 1,877 3,230(111) 1,726 1,207 Lot 2—Eastern, east midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber 5,594 3,940 3,419 (120) 3,211 113 Lot 3—South west and west midlands 4,162 4,747 3,102(182) 2,061 1,620 Lot 4—North west and north east 6,974 5,633 4,284 (437) 2,645 2,063 1Following the completion of works installers typically take between 6–8 weeks to submit an invoice for payment. it is likely that work has already been completed in some of these households.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what has been the total value of work carried out since June 2000 by contractors in each of the four areas of England established for the purposes of administering the home energy efficiency scheme. [4764]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 18 July 2001]: The table identifies the total value of work completed and invoiced in each of the four lot areas (described in the table) in England. Following the completion of works installers typically take between 6–8 weeks to submit an invoice for payment. It is likely that the value of works is higher than the figures identified. The figure excludes the material value of new gas central heating systems, which are paid for by a separate lease agreement:
£ million Scheme manager Total value of work from 1 June 2000 to 30 June 2001 Lot 1—London and South East 6.81 Lot 2—Eastern, East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber 17.70 Lot 3—South West and West Midlands 14.96 Lot 4—North West and North East 22.84 Total 62.31