To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many households were successful in being awarded low carbon building programme renewable energy grants on 1 March; and at what time on 1 March the March budget was allocated in full. (125859)

At 9 am on 1 March, the monthly allocation for the household stream opened to new applicants. In less than two hours, we had been successful in allocating £635,340.47 to 189 projects.

In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further £6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than £18 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate his Department has made of the number of unsuccessful household applications to the low carbon buildings programme in March 2007; and if he will make a statement. (126192)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many households applied for grants under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme on 1 March; and how long it took for the March funding to be allocated in full. (128221)

In March 2007, 189 household applicants were successfully awarded low carbon buildings programme grants. It is not possible for us to provide details on the number of unsuccessful online applications. However, as of 26 March, there have been 80 unsuccessful postal applications.

It is important to note that in the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further £6 million will be made available to the household stream, taking the total available for householders to more than £18 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry at what time on 1 March the March budget for household installations under the low carbon buildings programme was allocated in full; and how many and what proportion of applicants received grant allocations. (126193)

At 9 am on 1 March, the monthly allocation for the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme opened to new applicants. In less than two hours, we had been successful in allocating £635,340.47 to 189 projects. It is not possible for us to provide details on the number of unsuccessful online applications. However, as of 26 March, there has been 80 unsuccessful postal applications.

In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further £6 million will be made available to the household stream, taking the total available for householders to more than £18 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many paper applications for household grants under the low carbon buildings programme were successful in each month between November 2006 and March 2007; and what advice his Department gives on the application process to households who do not have access to the internet. (126265)

The following table shows the number of successful postal applicants under the low carbon buildings programme household stream since November 2006.

This demonstrates that we have seen a number of successful postal applicants since November 2006. However, where applicants have access to the internet, they are encouraged to apply online.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many household applications were received to the low carbon buildings programme in (a) September 2006, (b) October 2006 and (c) November 2006; and what the total value was of such applications in each month. (126316)

Under the low carbon buildings programme phase 1, the number of successful household applicants in September to November 2006 is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate his Department has made of the total sum required to meet household demand for grants in full under the low carbon buildings programme for the duration of the programme; and if he will make a statement. (126317)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to increase funding for household installations under the low carbon buildings programme. (126720)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will (a) increase the budget for household grants under the low carbon buildings programme and (b) take steps to ensure that funds for household grants under the programme are available throughout each month. (127001)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will increase the funds available for household grants under the low carbon buildings programme; and if he will make a statement. (127169)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to ensure that funds available for household grants under the low carbon buildings programme in April 2007 are sufficient to meet demand. (128222)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that the low carbon buildings programme is capable of meeting the demand of households for renewable energy capital grants; and if he will make a statement. (128708)

In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further £6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than £18 million.

Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream will be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be re-shaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many households in the UK (a) applied for and (b) were awarded grants under the low carbon buildings programme in (i) 2006, (ii) January 2007 and (iii) February 2007. (126721)

The following table shows the number of applications received and grants awarded under the low carbon buildings programme household stream in 2006, January 2007 and February 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many public sector buildings in the UK (a) applied for and (b) were awarded grants under the low carbon buildings programme in (i) 2006, (ii) January 2007 and (iii) February 2007. (126723)

The following table shows the number of applications received for public sector buildings under the low carbon buildings programme in 2006, January 2007 and February 2007.

As we only recently completed our assessment of applications received under the first call of stream two, no grant awards have been made to date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether there are plans to increase the budget of the low carbon buildings programme. (126733)

[holding answer 14 March 2007]: In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further £6 million will be made available to the household stream, taking the total available for householders to more than £18 million.

Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream is to be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be re-shaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what average number of households per month was receiving grants under the low carbon buildings programme in the 12 months prior to the introduction of a monthly cap; and how many households were allocated grants on 1 March. (126827)

[holding answer 12 March 2007]: Prior to the introduction of the monthly cap, we made an average of 540 grant awards per month to low carbon buildings programme household applicants.

The purpose of the cap was to ensure the resources did not run out before June 2008. In March 2007, we allocated grants to 189 household applicants.

In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further £6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than £18 million.

Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream is to be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be re-shaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry at what time on 1 March the March funding became available for household projects under the low carbon buildings programme; at what time on that day it was allocated in full; and if he will make a statement. (126966)

[holding answer 12 March 2007]: At 9.00 am on 1 March, the monthly allocation for the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme opened to new applicants. In less than 2 hours, we had been successful in allocating £635,340.47 to 189 projects.

In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further £6 million will be made available to the household stream, taking the total available for householders to more than £18 million.

Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream is to be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be re-shaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of likely household demand for low carbon buildings programme grants to March 2009; and whether he expects additional funding from the Treasury to be required to meet that demand. (127104)

In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further £6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than £18 million.

We aim to continue funding until June 2008, by which time some of our wider measures to promote microgeneration should be taking hold.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment he has made of the impact of monthly grant capping under the low carbon buildings programme on consumer demand for micro-renewables; (127248)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice his Department is offering to householders who encountered internet access problems while attempting to apply for a grant under the low carbon buildings programme on 1 March. (127253)

In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further £6 million will be made available to the household stream, taking the total available for householders to more than £18 million.

Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream is to be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be re-shaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date he expects the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme to end; and if he will make a statement. (127251)

In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further £6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than £18 million.

The low carbon buildings programme is a demonstration not deployment programme, and we believe that the current funding made available to the household stream will allow us to meet the key objectives of the scheme.

We aim to continue funding until June 2008, by which time some of our wider measures to promote microgeneration should be taking hold.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of the level of household demand for capital grants under the low carbon buildings programme to March 2009. (127931)

In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further £6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than £18 million.

Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream will be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be reshaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.

We aim to continue funding until June 2008, by which time some of our wider measures to promote microgeneration should be taking hold.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reasons his Department introduced a limit on the amount of capital grants to be allocated to households in any calendar month under the low carbon buildings programme; and if he will make a statement. (127932)

The purpose of the monthly cap was to ensure the resources did not run out before June 2008.

In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further £6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than £18 million.

Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream will be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be reshaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact on the UK household micro renewable market of his Department's introduction of a monthly cap for household grants under the low carbon buildings programme. (128719)

Prior to the introduction of the monthly cap, we made an average of 540 grant awards per month to low carbon buildings programme household applicants.

The purpose of the cap was to ensure the resources did not run out before June 2008. In March 2007, we allocated grants to 189 household applicants.

In the Budget 2007, it was announced that a further £6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than £18 million.

Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream is to be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be reshaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice he is giving to householders who did not obtain a grant under the low carbon buildings programme on 1 February and 1 March. (128835)

In the Budget, it was announced that a further £6 million will be made available to the household stream of the low carbon buildings programme, taking the total available for householders to more than £18 million.

Before deciding how to make best use of the extra funding, the household stream will be suspended for the monthly allocation in April so that it can be reshaped. Proposals will be brought forward in May.