To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to his Department’s press release of 13 March 2006, how much funding (a) his Department and (b) its agencies is providing to the British council tax rebate programme. (103919)

The council tax rebate scheme is an independent activity undertaken by British Gas to help them meet their obligations, set by Government under the Energy Efficiency Commitment, to improve the energy efficiency of householders. It therefore involves no funding by DEFRA or its agencies.