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Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Answer

Mr. Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many contractors he expects to use under the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme; [131310] (2) how many contractors used by the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme in the period up to April 2000 are not eligible for the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme; [131311] (3) what guidance he has issued to determine which contractors are eligible to be considered under the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [131312] Mr. Meacher: Some 100 insulation and heating installation contractors are currently appointed to the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme, which started in June. The two Scheme Managers for New HEES expect to appoint up to a further 45 contractors. The New HEES scheme, which started in June, provides vulnerable householders with a comprehensive package of insulation, together with efficient central heating for householders over 60 in age, through grants of up to £2,000. The previous scheme provided householders with one insulation measure per household, mainly draughtproofing, with a maximum grant of £315. Funding for the scheme has been increased from about £76 million last year to around £122 million this year and around £153 million next year. Some 130 insulation contractors were involved in the previous scheme. The Scheme Managers for New HEES, Eastern Energy and the EAGA Partnership Ltd., were appointed by my Department following UK Public Procurement Rules and Regulations. They are contractually required to appoint installers using the same competitive tendering process and following the same Regulations. All existing installers were eligible to tender for appointment to the new scheme. Installers have been chosen on the basis of their technical abilities to deal with the wider range of measures provided through New HEES, their ability to meet the quality standard, and the price tendered.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

354 c205-6W; 131310;131311;131312

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Contracts Conservation Finance Energy Grants Housing improvement Insulation Heating Warm front scheme Older people Standards Central heating

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk