§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are being taken to ensure that(a) Eaga Partnership Ltd. and (b) Eastern HEES Ltd. monitor the independent installers employed in relation to the home energy efficiency scheme. [16122]
§ Mr. WattsTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to monitor the performance of the contractors and management of the Government's energy efficiency scheme. [18385]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 19 November 2001]: The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme managers are responsible for appointing and managing contractors to carry out the installation of heating and insulation measures in homes. This includes checking that installers are able to meet the technical and quality requirements of the scheme, as well as the price tendered. Once appointed, both scheme managers continue to check the quality of work through physical inspections of all central heating, and a proportion of insulation installations.
The results of this monitoring are provided to my Department within the regular reports produced by the scheme managers. In addition an independent quality assurance contractor is employed by my Department to inspect and advise on the systems used by the scheme managers, including those relating to contractor management.