§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent steps he has taken to promote energy efficiency in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [131393]
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§ Mr. PearsonThe Consultation document 'Towards a New Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland', published by DETI in April 2003, highlighted the continued importance of energy efficiency and renewable energy as the primary means of reducing the carbon footprint of the energy sector in Northern Ireland and enhancing sustainability. The final Strategy, which will be published later this year, will further sharpen the focus on energy efficiency and help co-ordinate efforts towards securing further substantial improvements.
Government are committed to promoting energy efficiency and approximately £16 million will be committed this year on energy efficiency programmes sponsored by a number of Government Departments in Northern Ireland.
For example, the Department of Social Development has lead responsibility for energy efficiency in the domestic sector, using the Northern Ireland Housing Executive as a delivery partner, and has secured a 13 per cent. saving in energy consumption since 1996 in occupied stock across all tenures. This level of saving was achieved from a broad range of schemes, such as the Warm Homes Scheme, the Housing Executive's heating replacement programme and renewable energy pilot schemes. The energy efficiency levy, which was increased by the Northern Ireland Assembly to £5 per electricity consumer was used to further underpin household energy efficiency with over 80 per cent. of this benefit being specifically targeted towards disadvantaged householders likely to be at risk of fuel poverty.