To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to exercise his powers pursuant to section 4(3) of the Sustainable Energy Act 2003 to give an energy efficiency direction to some or all of the energy conservation authorities that have achieved energy efficiency improvements in their domestic housing stock of less than 20 per cent. for the period 1 April 1996 to 31 March 2006; and if he will make a statement. (154082)

Government policy to support and incentivise increased local authority action on climate change is outlined in the 2006 UK Climate Change Programme and the 2006 Local Government White Paper. In addition, the Government have undertaken a review of the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (HECA) to assess its success in delivering improvements in energy efficiency in the household sector over the last 10 years. DEFRA has published its review and is seeking the views of stakeholders on its findings and options for the future of the HECA.