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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 4 December 1996
ENVIRONMENT
Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to develop the home energy efficiency scheme. [6897]
Mr. Robert B. Jones: I intend to build on the strengths of the home energy efficiency scheme, on which we have spent about £350 million over almost six years, by making changes based on the proposals we published earlier this year. The scheme is popular and well-regarded, and has improved living conditions for 2 million of the most vulnerable households.
I have taken careful account of the comments made on our proposals. The revised scheme will offer greater benefits and more choice. The present range of basic insulation measures will be extended, allowing the scheme to offer the measures best suited to individual homes. Energy rating techniques will be used to monitor the scheme's overall performance.
Under the changes, the range of energy efficiency measures on offer will be widened. Householders will be able to choose from a list of approved measures, which will include draught-proofing of doors and windows, loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and better heating system controls. Energy-efficient lamps, hot water tank insulation and personal advice about how to increase comfort and save energy in the home will also be available.
Eligibility will remain the same. There will be two rates of grant--a standard rate for householders who qualify because they receive an income-related benefit or a disability allowance; and a 25 per cent. rate for people who qualify because they are aged 60 or more. The amount of grant will depend on the measures chosen, but, as now, the standard rate grant should cover the full cost of the work in all homes except those which are large or unusual.
There will be no changes to the way householders apply for grants. Eaga Ltd., based in Newcastle upon Tyne, will continue to manage the scheme, and it will appoint installers to work throughout the country to high standards of workmanship and customer care. Householders will still be able to install some energy efficiency measures themselves, with grant available towards the cost of the necessary materials.
The changes to the scheme will happen from April 1997. The existing format will continue until then, and transitional arrangements will be made for people aged over 60 who are still eligible for a grant under the scheme as it operated before April 1996.
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Mr. Meacher:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the percentage of (a) glass and (b) steel recycled in the United Kingdom in (i) 1994 and (ii) 1995; and if he will list such data as are available on recycling rates for (1) the United Kingdom and (2) other European Union member states. [6995]
Mr. Clappison:
No definitive information is held centrally on the amount of glass and steel recycled in the United Kingdom. The latest estimates that my Department has on the amount of glass cullet and ferrous scrap that is recycled as a percentage of consumption in the United
Kingdom during 1994 and 1995 are as follows:
| 1994 | 1995(1) | |
|---|---|---|
| Glass cullet | 28 | 26 |
| Ferrous scrap | 42 | 40 |
(1) Provisional
| 1994 | |
|---|---|
| Per cent. | |
| Denmark | 67 |
| France | 48 |
| Germany | 75 |
| Greece | 29 |
| Ireland | 31 |
| Italy | 54 |
| Portugal | 32 |
| Spain | 31 |
| United Kingdom | 28 |
Local Government Finance
Mr. Congdon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each year from 1978-79 in (i) cash and (ii) real terms (a) the amount raised by (1) tax on domestic ratepayers and (2) tax on non-domestic ratepayers and (b) the amount of rate support grant or its equivalent. [7092]
Sir Paul Beresford: The requested information is available from 1981-82. Amounts raised from domestic householders are gross of rebate or benefit--as detailed in note 1--and the grants supporting these expenditures are excluded from the grants columns. The grants columns include all grants supporting revenue expenditure, as detailed in note 3.
| Domestic rates/community charges/council tax(2) | Non-domestic rates(3) | Government grants(4) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | At 1997-98 prices | Cash | At 1997-98 prices | Cash | At 1997-98 prices | |
| 1981-82 | 4,338 | 8,959 | 5,013 | 10,353 | 10,930 | 22,574 |
| 1982-83 | 5,020 | 9,678 | 5,685 | 10,961 | 11,233 | 21,657 |
| 1983-84 | 5,446 | 10,034 | 6,042 | 11,132 | 11,520 | 21,226 |
| 1984-85 | 5,895 | 10,342 | 6,361 | 11,160 | 11,938 | 20,944 |
| 1985-86 | 6,388 | 10,625 | 6,740 | 11,210 | 11,715 | 19,485 |
| 1986-87 | 7,364 | 11,889 | 7,566 | 12,215 | 11,950 | 19,293 |
| 1987-88 | 8,090 | 12,401 | 8,088 | 12,398 | 12,723 | 19,503 |
| 1988-89 | 8,957 | 12,869 | 8,819 | 12,671 | 13,201 | 18,967 |
| 1989-90 | 9,713 | 13,044 | 9,595 | 12,886 | 13,481 | 18,104 |
| 1990-91 | 12,251 | 15,236 | 10,429 | 12,970 | 12,927 | 16,076 |
| 1991-92 | 8,533 | 9,973 | 12,408 | 14,502 | 18,620 | 21,763 |
| 1992-93 | 9,521 | 10,678 | 12,306 | 13,801 | 20,968 | 23,516 |
| 1993-94 | 8,912 | 9,714 | 11,559 | 12,599 | 21,685 | 23,637 |
| 1994-95 | 9,239 | 9,894 | 10,685 | 11,443 | 23,678 | 25,357 |
| 1995-96(5) | 9,777 | 10,222 | 11,354 | 11,871 | 23,317 | 24,378 |
| 1996-97(6) | 10,460 | 10,669 | 12,736 | 12,991 | 22,988 | 23,448 |
| 1997-98(7) | 9,655 | 9,655 | 12,027 | 12,027 | 23,713 | 23,713 |
(2) Gross of domestic rate rebates for the years 1981-82 to 1989-90. Gross of Community Charge Benefit Grant and Transitional Relief Scheme Grant (1990-91 to 1992-93). Gross of Council Tax Benefit Grant for 1993-94 to 1997-98 and Council Tax Transitional Relief Scheme Grant for 1993-94 to 1996-97.
(3) For the years 1981-82 to 1989-90, this represents non-domestic rate yields net of rate relief. For the years 1990-91 to 1997-98 this represents the distributable amount from the non-domestic rates pool.
(4) For the years 1981-82 to 1989-90 Government Grants comprise Aggregate Exchequer Grant. For 1990-91 to 1997-98 Government Grants included are Revenue Support Grant, Specific and Special Grants in Aggregate External Finance, Community Charge Grant (1991-92), Teachers Pay Award Additional Grant (1992-93), SSA Reduction Grant (1994-95 to 1997-98), Police Grant (1995-96 to 1997-98).
(5) Provisional outturn.
(6) Budget estimates.
(7) Provisional settlement.
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4 Dec 1996 : Column: 643
Local Government Finance
Mr. Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of total Government expenditure in England was met by domestic ratepayers in 1978-79; what proportion of such expenditure was met by domestic council tax payers in (a) 1995-96 and (b) the current financial year; and what proportion will be so met in the next financial year. [7116]
Sir Paul Beresford [holding answer 3 December 1996]: The requested information is available from 1981-82. Figures for the proportion provided by domestic householders are gross of rebate or benefit. The figure for 1997-98 is based on the provisional settlement, assuming that council tax is set at the council tax for standard spending. Local authorities' budgeted expenditure and actual council taxes will not be known until they have set their budgets.
| Domestic rates/council tax as a proportion of local government expenditure(8) | |
|---|---|
| (Per cent.) | |
| 1981-82 | 21.6 |
| 1995-96 (provisional outturn) | 21.4 |
| 1996-97 (budget estimates) | 22.1 |
| 1997-98 (provisional Settlement) | 21.3 |
(8) Gross of domestic rate rebates for the year 1981-82. Gross of council tax benefit grant and council tax transitional relief scheme grant for 1995-96 and 1996-97. Gross of council tax benefit grant for 1997-98.
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