§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many applications have been made under the new home energy saving scheme; how many have been accepted; how many have been completed; and what the average wait is between application and completion of the work. [160264]
§ Mr. MeacherThe information requested is set out in the table. While the average wait is calculated as being 108 days, since the scheme started on 1 June 2000, there have been instances when householders have had to wait much longer, especially for heating measures. We are working with the Home Energy Efficiency scheme managers to reduce the time taken to install measures. Since January the average waiting time has been reduced to 59 days.
Number Applications submitted to date 323,244 Applications accepted 263,359 Households where work has been completed 111,985 Average time taken between application and date of work (days)1 2108 1Measured from date of call with respect to telephone applications; from date of receipt in the case of postal applications; or from date of e-mail. 2This is the average since the start of the scheme on 1 June 2000. Since 1 January the average time taken to completion of works has fallen to 59 days.