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22 Nov 2007 : Column 1058W—continued
| Patrol days 2007-08 | ||||||||||
| Month | Days | Profile | Ships | Contract days | Total profile | Total days | Balance | OPVs | IPVs | Total d ays % OPVs |
| Note: OPV = Offshore patrol vessel = Rivers IPV = Inshore patrol vessel = Hunts | ||||||||||
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the highest number of River Class offshore patrol vessels allocated to the Fishery Protection Squadron at any one time (a) has been and (b) will be in the new contract period from 1 April 2008; and if he will make a statement. [166433]
Jonathan Shaw: There are three River Class vessels allocated to the Fishery Protection Squadron which will be included in the new contact period. This is the highest number there has been at any one time.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his assessment is of the operational efficiency of the River Class offshore patrol vessels; and if he will make a statement. [166435]
Jonathan Shaw: The River Class vessels, built in the last five years, are much faster vessels than the older Hunts (18 years+), with a maximum speed of 22 knots compared to a maximum of 15 knots on the Hunts and they are able to stay at sea for longer periods. Rivers currently carry out 12-day patrols followed by a two-day stand-off whereas the Hunts carry out seven to eight-day patrols followed by a two-day stand-off.
The River Class vessels are equipped and manned to be able to routinely deploy two sea-boats to carry out simultaneous inspections, whereas the Hunts are equipped to use one sea-boat. They do exceptionally use two sea-boats if weather and crewing permit.
Rivers have a higher complement of qualified British Sea Fisheries Officers (BSFOs), carrying an average of four at all times whereas the Hunts carry an average of three qualified BSFOs.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many patrol days were undertaken by each class of Fisheries Protection Squadron vessel in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [166464]
Jonathan Shaw: The following table records the number of patrol days undertaken by offshore and inshore patrol vessels since 1995.
| Offshore patrol vessels | Inshore patrol vessels | ||||
| Calendar year or agreement year | Patrol days | Days | Percentage | Days | Percentage |
Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the risk of fraud being carried out by warm front contractors participating in the Warm Front Scheme. [166305]
Mr. Woolas: Eaga plc, the Warm Front Scheme Manager, assesses the qualifications and financial probity of potential installers before they are contracted to work on the scheme. Once engaged in the scheme eaga plc performs regular audits on their performance.
DEFRA also employs independent quality assessors, who perform regular audits of Warm Front, to ensure that all elements of the scheme are being delivered to a high standard.
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of people who have received a Warm Front grant who have been required to pay further costs on top of the grant. [166308]
Mr. Woolas: Since June 2005, 535,882 households have received assistance through the Warm Front Scheme. Of these households 90,789 have been required to pay an excess, equating to 16.9 per cent. of those assisted.
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