Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Oral Answers to Questions

Mike Weir Excerpts
Thursday 16th January 2014

(10 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Barker of Battle Portrait Gregory Barker
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I am afraid I cannot off the top of my head give the specific figure, but I will happily write to the hon. Gentleman with it and make it available to the rest of the House. I can tell hon. Members, however, that we are doing, and are determined to do, much better than the previous Labour Government.

Mike Weir Portrait Mr Mike Weir (Angus) (SNP)
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One way to increase energy efficiency is to have modern boilers. The current affordable warrant schemes under the ECO, however, do not include home fuel oil or LPG boilers, discriminating against those in rural areas who are off the gas grid. The Minister has said that the coalition wants to do something for rural areas, so will he look again and ensure that, as he has promised before, all such schemes will be technologically neutral?

Lord Barker of Battle Portrait Gregory Barker
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We take this issue very seriously. We are meeting suppliers again next month, and I can assure the hon. Gentleman that there will be progress. That has eluded Governments in the past, but we are determined to make progress.