§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what was the total budget for the warm front schemes in the(a) Eaga area and (b) eastern area during 2001–02; and (i) how much and (ii) what percentage of these budgets (1) has already been spent and (2) is projected to be spent by the end of the year given present trends; and what measures Eaga and eastern are expected to take to bring budgets back into line if they are depleted before the end of the year. [25354]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 9 January 2002]The home energy efficiency scheme (HEES), now marketed as the warm front team, is administered by two scheme managers, TXU Warm Front Ltd. (responsible for the eastern, east midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber) and Eaga Partnership Ltd. (responsible for the rest of England). The table provides the information requested.
§ David HamiltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the Government are helping to promote more energy efficient homes; and how many people in the Midlothian constituency have benefited from this. [27182]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is responsible for energy efficiency in England. In Scotland, and therefore for Midlothian this is a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
The Government are committed to energy efficiency for its significant environmental, business and social benefits and have announced a range of policies to promote energy efficiency and reduce emissions in the domestic sector, including:
A new Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) for 2002–05 will place an obligation on gas and electricity suppliers to make energy efficiency improvements, through measures provided to domestic consumers.The Energy Saving Trust promotes the sustainable and efficient use of energy in the domestic sector. The trust is also active in encouraging local authorities to develop and improve domestic energy efficiency.New Building Regulations to come into effect from April 2002 will include improved standards of energy efficiency for new houses and those undergoing refurbishment.The new home energy efficiency scheme (HEES) is designed to tackle fuel poverty among those most vulnerable to cold-related ill health. Access to the scheme is through receipt of a qualifying income or disability related benefit. By 2004, HEES is expected to have assisted some 800,000 householders.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many houses in(a) the UK and (b) Wales lack (i) insulation and\ (ii) draught-proofing; and what measures the Government are taking to lower this figure. [25626]
609W
§ Mr. MeacherAs fuel poverty is a devolved matter, it is the responsibility of the respective Parliament and Assemblies to comment on the situation in their countries.
The information is set out in respect of England:
Insulation of households in England 1999 Households Number With no insulation1 2,600,000 Without full insulation2 18,100,000 With no draught-proofing3 4,400,000 Without full draught-proofing4 7,290,000 Total 20,800,000 1 No insulation is taken to mean the following: no loft insulation (where there is a loft); no cavity insulation (if there is a cavity wall); no double glazing. 2 Full insulation is taken to mean the following: at least four inches of loft insulation (where there is a loft); cavity walls insulated (where there are cavity walls); at least 80 per cent. of windows double glazed. 3 Double glazing is taken to include draught proofing. 4 Full draught-proofing is taken to mean 80 per cent. or more of rooms draught-proofed. The Government's main programme for private sector households in England is the home energy efficiency scheme (HEES), marketed as the warm front team, which is designed to tackle fuel poverty among those most vulnerable to cold related ill health—older householders, families with children and the disabled or those with long term illness. The scheme provides grants for a package of insulation and heating improvements. Separate programmes are in place to bring social sector housing up to a decent standard.
The Government have recently set a target of 62 fuel-standardised terawatt hours for improvements in energy efficiency to be achieved by electricity and gas suppliers under the Energy Efficiency Commitment for 2002 to 2005 (EEC). Suppliers' EEC programmes are expected to include significant numbers of insulation measures.
The Government also provide funding to the Energy Saving Trust to run a wide ranging programme of work to promote energy efficiency in homes. This includes promotion of cavity wall insulation and draught-proofing via advertising, advice centres and a database of available grants.
§ Mr. WattsTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what is the average installation cost of an Eaga central heating system in the(a) north-west and (b) UK. [22898]
§ Mr. MeacherThe two scheme managers, Eaga and TXU Warm Front Ltd., are responsible for recruiting heating contractors through an open tender in accordance with the UK Public Procurement Regulations. At present they are in the process of re-tendering contracts for the next two years. Therefore it is not possible to publish the current average installation prices without seriously distorting this tender process.
However the average cost of providing a central heating system together with appropriate insulation is some £2,000.
610WAs fuel poverty is a devolved matter, it is the responsibility of the respective Parliament and Assemblies to comment on the situation in Scotland and Wales.