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22 Feb 2010 : Column 73W—continued
Turning to household measures, since 2002, the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and its predecessors have helped over 6 million households with insulation measures with almost 3 million of these in a priority group of vulnerable households.
Government will be providing more financial assistance to help people generate their own heat and electricity in low carbon ways, where appropriate, through 'clean energy cashback' schemes:
Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) will be in place from April 2010. Payment for low carbon electricity produced by small-scale generators (including households), will be provided through the electricity supply companies to encourage the uptake of low carbon and renewable electricity generating technologies by households, businesses and communities.
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), scheduled for launch in April 2011, will provide households, communities and businesses with payment for getting their heat from renewable sources. The detailed design of the RHI is currently out for consultation.
Warm Front scheme: Streatham constituency
DECC's Warm Front scheme provides grants for households on qualifying income and disability related benefits to install a range of insulation and heating measures in their homes. Since 2000 the scheme has assisted 927 households in the Streatham constituency.
Thanet
Dr. Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will set out, with statistical information related as directly as possible to South Thanet constituency, the effects on South Thanet of the policies and actions of his Department and its predecessors since 2000. [315639]
Joan Ruddock: The Department of Energy and Climate Change and its predecessors have implemented a large number of policies to address energy security, emissions reductions, low carbon economic growth and fuel poverty since 2000. Some of the key achievements are set out as follows, along with information on the number of households assisted by the Warm Front scheme in South Thanet constituency. It would be disproportionately costly to provide statistical information on all the impact of all the policies to the level of detail requested, but statistical information covering energy and climate change is available at:
Total UK greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by about 12 per cent. compared with 1997.
The UK is on track to cut emissions by nearly twice our Kyoto target (22 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008-12 compared to the target of 12.5 per cent. set out under the Kyoto agreement).
The Climate Change Act in 2008 set a target of at least 80 per cent. reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050. Our first three carbon budgets legally bind the UK to a cut in greenhouse gases of 34 per cent. by 2018-22 against a 1990 baseline. In 2009, the UK's Low Carbon Transition Plan set out the long-term vision for climate change and energy and showing how we will meet the carbon budgets set out in the Climate Change Act.
In the same year, the Department published National Policy Statements on energy infrastructure which will lead to faster and fairer planning decisions and a diverse low carbon energy mix. An ambitious new framework for clean coal will also drive development of carbon capture and storage.
The UK's energy market is the most competitive in the EU and has attracted over £97 billion of investment from 1997 to 2008 (at 2005 prices). The UK also has the greatest installed capacity of offshore wind in the world.
Turning to household measures, since 2002, the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and its predecessors have helped over 6 million households with insulation measures with almost 3 million of these in a priority group of vulnerable households.
Government will be providing more financial assistance to help people generate their own heat and electricity in low carbon ways, where appropriate, through 'clean energy cashback' schemes:
Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) will be in place from April 2010. Payment for low carbon electricity produced by small-scale generators (including households), will be provided through the electricity supply companies to encourage the uptake of low carbon and renewable electricity generating technologies by households, businesses and communities.
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), scheduled for launch in April 2011, will provide households, communities and businesses with payment for getting their heat from renewable sources. The detailed design of the RHI is currently out for consultation.
Warm Front scheme: South Thanet constituency
DECC's Warm Front scheme provides grants for households on qualifying income and disability related benefits to install a range of insulation and heating measures in their homes. Since 2000 the scheme has assisted 2,067 households in the South Thanet constituency.
Totnes Transition Town Group
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much funding his Department has provided to Totnes Transition Town Group; over what period this funding is being provided; for what purpose the funding is being provided; and how the effectiveness of the funding will be evaluated. [314079]
Joan Ruddock [holding answer 28 January 2010]: Totnes Transition Group are being awarded £625,000 of funding, the benefits of which will be delivered mainly in FY 2009-10 and some in FY 2010-11. Totnes Transition Group are receiving this funding as they have been selected to take part in the low carbon communities challenge which is a £10 million Government research project for communities to improve energy efficiency and tackle the wider issue of climate change.
The monitoring and evaluation plan, managed by DECC, has been designed to capture evidence of project impacts and promote community dialogue and shared learning. The primary objective of this is to help inform and shape our policy in relation to the role of communities in delivering the transition to a low carbon economy and share our learning across the UK that will inspire and guide further community-led initiatives.
The evaluation strands consist of the installation of real time displays, survey of households, case studies, co-inquiry and shared learning.
Vauxhall
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Vauxhall constituency, the effects on the constituency of changes to his Department's policies since 1997. [310332]
Joan Ruddock: The Department of Energy and Climate Change and its predecessors have implemented a large number of policies to address energy security, emissions reductions, low carbon economic growth and fuel poverty since 1997. Some of the key achievements are set out as follows, along with information on the number of households assisted by the Warm Front scheme in Vauxhall constituency. It would be disproportionately costly to provide statistical information on all the impact of all the policies to the level of detail requested, but statistical information covering energy and climate change is available at:
Total UK greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by about 12 per cent. compared with 1997.
The UK is on track to cut emissions by nearly twice our Kyoto target (22 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008-12 compared to the target of 12.5 per cent. set out under the Kyoto agreement).
The Climate Change Act in 2008 set a target of at least 80 per cent. reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050. Our first three carbon budgets legally bind the UK to a cut in greenhouse gases of 34 per cent. by 2018-22 against a 1990 baseline. In 2009, the UK's Low Carbon Transition Plan set out the long-term vision for climate change and energy and showing how we will meet the carbon budgets set out in the Climate Change Act.
In the same year, the Department published National Policy Statements on energy infrastructure which will lead to faster and fairer planning decisions and a diverse low carbon energy mix. An ambitious new framework for clean coal will also drive development of carbon capture and storage.
The UK's energy market is the most competitive in the EU and has attracted over £97 billion of investment from 1997 to 2008 (at 2005 prices). The UK also has the greatest installed capacity of offshore wind in the world.
Turning to household measures, since 2002, the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and its predecessors have helped over
6 million households with insulation measures with almost 3 million of these in a priority group of vulnerable households.
Government will be providing more financial assistance to help people generate their own heat and electricity in low carbon ways, where appropriate, through 'clean energy cashback' schemes:
Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) will be in place from April 2010. Payment for low carbon electricity produced by small-scale generators (including households), will be provided through the electricity supply companies to encourage the uptake of low carbon and renewable electricity generating technologies by households, businesses and communities.
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), scheduled for launch in April 2011, will provide households, communities and businesses with payment for getting their heat from renewable sources. The detailed design of the RHI is currently out for consultation.
Warm Front scheme: Vauxhall constituency
DECC's Warm Front scheme provides grants for households on qualifying income and disability related benefits to install a range of insulation and heating measures in their homes. Since 2000 the scheme has assisted 1,190 households in the Vauxhall constituency.
Warm Front Scheme
Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that quotations from Warm Front contractors match those in the private sector. [315649]
Mr. Kidney: In 2008 an independent audit carried out by the Warm Front scheme's quality assessors, White Young Green, confirmed that the Warm Front pricing structures in place at that time provided good value for money when compared with the wider market. This was supported by the National Audit Office report into the scheme published in 2009.
Following a renegotiation of the scheme manager contract aimed at improving the quality of service for Warm Front customers a number of changes were made to the Warm Front contract in July 2009.
As part of this, under the new arrangements up to 35 per cent. of work will be allocated to appointed installers at a new, competitively derived, set price. For the remaining 65 per cent. of work, Warm Front registered installers operating will be able to bid via an electronic auction to establish the lowest price. This will include all cases where a customer contribution would be required under the fixed prices. Where a customer contribution is required, individual households will be free to choose between the three lowest bidders and to help them decide will have access to the installer's performance rating.
This new system is in the process of being rolled out across England, with full coverage expected to be in place by 1 May 2010.
The effectiveness of all Warm Front pricing and cost processes continue to be subject to regular review by the Department and the independent audits by White Young Green.
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of back boilers which have been replaced under the Warm Front scheme in (a) Mid Bedfordshire constituency, (b) Bedfordshire, (c) the East of England and (d) England in each year since its inception. [317531]
Mr. Kidney:
The following table shows the total number of boilers replaced by the Warm Front Scheme in (a) Mid Bedfordshire constituency, (b) Bedfordshire, (c) the East of England and (d) England in each year since
the current phase of the scheme began in 2005, but does not differentiate between back boilers and other type of boiler replaced under Warm Front. Details on types of boiler being replaced are not recorded.
| Boilers installed | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10( 1) |
| (1) Up to 10 February 2010 | |||||
Warm Front Scheme: Feltham
Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many applications from residents of Feltham and Heston constituency to the Warm Front Scheme for (a) heating, (b) insulation and (c) heating and insulation were approved in each of the last three years. [316664]
Mr. Kidney: The following table shows the number applications where (a) heating (b) insulation and (c) both heating and insulation measures were recommended in Felton and Heston in each of the last three years.
| Measure received | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10( 1) | Total |
| (1) Up to 31 January 2010. Note: These figures may include those cases where a measure was recommended but not carried out. This may occur of variety of reasons, for instance, where the client chooses to have work carried out privately rather than wait for work to be carried out through the scheme. | ||||
Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much has been spent on the Warm Front programme in Feltham and Heston constituency in each year since its inception; and what other steps have been taken in that constituency to (a) encourage greater energy efficiency measures and (b) reduce the level of fuel poverty. [316665]
Mr. Kidney: Table 1 shows the amount of Warm Front scheme funding spent in Feltham and Heston in each year since its inception.
Table 2 shows the number of homes and amount of funding spent in Feltham and Heston by the Warm Front £300 rebate scheme (which provides assistance to households requiring boiler replacements or repairs for those over 60 and not receiving benefits which would give them access to the main Warm Front scheme) in each year since its inception.
| Table 1: Warm Front spend | |
| Feltham and Heston | £ |
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