Oral Answers to Questions

David Amess Excerpts

Thursday 11th November 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Answers really must be shorter from now on. The Minister has been too long, and that is the end of it.

[Mr David Amess (Southend West) (Con)]

6. How many households he expects to have participated in his Department's energy efficiency programmes by 2015.

[The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Gregory Barker)]

The green deal will create a completely new market mechanism, incorporating an entirely new obligation on energy suppliers. It will drive up energy efficiency on an unprecedented scale, potentially reaching up to 26 million homes. Green deal plus and other initiatives should lead to around 10 million homes being treated by 2015.

[Mr Amess]

That is good news, but as a promoter of the Warms Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000, may I ask my hon. Friend whether he shares my disappointment at the relatively poor take-up of the scheme? What initiatives are the Government taking to ensure that vulnerable people are not cold in their homes this winter?

[Gregory Barker]

First, may I pay tribute to my hon. Friend’s long record of campaigning on this issue? I assure him that Warm Front remains open. We will be treating tens of thousands of new homes this winter. However, it must be the right long-term approach to look for new ways to crowd in private sector investment.