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Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Answer

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how the Government ensures that the cost of work carried out by contractors under the home energy efficiency scheme does not exceed the price which would be charged by local contractors registered with CORGI; [153532] (2) how the Government are ensuring that grants paid to contractors for work under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme does not exceed the value of the work done. [153533] Mr. Meacher: Scheme managers are contractually required to appoint insulation and heating sub-contractors following the requirements set out under the UK's Public Procurement Regulations. In the case of heating contractors, I understand that both scheme managers advertised widely in the trade press and wrote to all CORGI registered gas heating engineers inviting them to tender. The scheme managers were required to accept those tenders that were the lowest in price and technically compliant. The scheme is designed so that independent surveyors visit householders and advise the measures to be installed. Orders are then placed with the sub-contractors for the package of measures to be installed in each home. The scheme managers operate monitoring systems to ensure work orders are correctly carried out to the relevant specifications.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

364 c531W; 153532;153533

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Contracts Cost effectiveness Energy Grants Heating Warm front scheme

Link

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