§ Mr. Flight:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to public funds in terms of tax receipts forgone was of the affordable warmth programme in each year since its introduction. [131492]
§ John Healey:The Finance Act 2000 made capital allowances available specifically for spending on equipment for leasing under an approved affordable warmth programme, a Government administered scheme which aims to support the installation of efficient central heating systems in up to 1 million low income homes over five years. Finance for the programme is provided by commercial leasing packages, administered 11W through local authorities, with Transco (the pipeline arm of British Gas plc) guaranteeing the residual value of the installed equipment.
The estimated cost to the Exchequer of capital allowances for approved affordable warmth programmes is given in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 2003 [HC 500].