Written question asked by James Plaskitt (Labour) on Monday, 3 November 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 5 November 2008. It was answered by Joan Ruddock (Labour) on Tuesday, 11 November 2008 on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change by what criteria his Department decides which companies and suppliers can contract with Warm Front.

Answer: Eaga, the Warm Front scheme manager, is obliged, under the contract held with DECC, to comply with EU procurement regulations for all contracted works. The regulations mandate that offers to tender are placed in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU).Installers interested in working on the Warm Front scheme must enter a competitive tender process. Fundamental to the process are an interrogation of installer policy, financial standing, compliance with instructions and professional qualification. Policies interrogated include:"Health and safety""Quality assurance""Customer care""Value for money""Training""Sustainability and corporate social responsibility""Environmental and waste reduction""Qualification to professionally recognised standards, i.e. Corgi, NICEIC, BBA, etc dependant on measure(s) bid for."Eaga is currently undertaking the above tender process for installers to commence working on the scheme in June 2009.

Secondary information