asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many referrals for home insulation under schemes funded by the Manpower Services Commission were sponsored by (a) non-statutory bodies and (b) statutory bodies, including local authorities;(2) how many schemes to insulate domestic dwellings funded by the Manpower Services Commission are distributed exclusively to the elderly and the disabled;(3) how many schemes to insulate domestic dwellings have been or are being funded by the Manpower Services Commission through (
a) the youth opportunities programme, ( b) the special temporary employment programme or ( c) other programmes.
I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that schemes designed to carry out home insulation and draft-proofing work have been funded under the special temporary employment programme, the youth opportunities programme, community industry and the job creation programme. Such schemes are authorised to undertake work only on publicly owned dwellings or privately owned dwellings occupied by elderly, disabled or otherise disadvantaged people.Records of individual schemes are held locally, and I regret that the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.