§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of Stage for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the uptake of(a) the DTI solar fund and (b) the clear skies fund since their introduction. [124817]
§ Mr. TimmsThe PV Major Demonstration Programme has, in Streams one and two, grants committed totalling £10.14 million.
These breakdown as follow:
Stream 1–298 grants offered with a committed value of £2.35 million, of which 108 installations have been completed at a total cost of £754,000.
Stream 2–66 grants offered with a committed value of £7.8million.
The Clear Skies initiative has just approved 22 Community grants with a committed value of £490,000.
892WIndividual householder approved grants total 237, with a committed value of £169,900.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to extend the scope of the(a) DTI solar fund and (b) the clear skies fund. [124818]
§ Mr. TimmsBoth the PV Major Demonstration Programme and Clear Skies are schemes that have role to play in helping to breakdown barriers to public acceptability of renewable technologies, by providing local residents with a direct benefit from renewable developments.
The extensive interest and take-up of both schemes indicate the great strides already achieved by both. Further consultation and evaluation will be taking place in the lifetime of each to inform any decision on the extension of either or both schemes.