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Warm Front

Volume 454: debated on Tuesday 5 December 2006

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guarantees are offered to householders who have had new central heating systems installed by the EAGA group under the Warm Front grants scheme. (107043)

[holding answer 4 December 2006]: Under the Warm Front scheme, gas central heating installations and gas replacement boilers receive two years’ breakdown cover and two annual service visits.

Gas repairs that cost more than £250 receive two years’ breakdown cover and two annual service visits. Gas repairs that cost less than £250 are subject to a one year cover from the contracted installer.

Oil central heating and electric systems are subject to a one year cover from the contracted installer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average length of time was between submission of an application for a warm front grant and the relevant works being completed in the latest period for which figures are available. (107044)

[holding answer 4 December 2006]: From June 2005 to October 2006, the average time across England for a warm front survey to take place, after initial contact was made by the applicant, was 14 working days.

The average time for completion of applications where heating work was required, from initial contact to all measures being installed, was 95 working days.

The average time for completion of applications where only insulation was required, from initial contact to measures being installed, was 48 working days.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to ensure that householders who have received warm front grants are entitled to a fully itemised list of all works completed. (107045)

[holding answer 4 December 2006]: When a household is recommended for energy efficiency measures under warm front, the householder will initially receive an indication, from a scheme manager assessor, of those measures that could potentially be carried out.

The contractor appointed to undertake the work will then perform a full survey and provide the warm front scheme manager with a list of required materials, and an indication of the labour requirements to undertake the work.

Upon the householder's request, the scheme manager will provide a fully itemised list of all the works to be undertaken and the total cost of these works. For commercial confidentiality reasons, individual material prices are not shared.