Question reference: S6W-03712
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 13 October 2021 Registered interest
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Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 4 November 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to raising the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland: Area Based Scheme (HEEPS: ABS) price cap for householders, and what the outcome was of any such consideration.
Answer
The Scottish Government provides funding to local councils through our Area Based Schemes to deliver energy efficiency improvements to households living in or at risk of fuel poverty. The guidance for the scheme specifies an average amount per property for the intensity of grant-in-aid that can usually be provided for fabric improvements.
This maxima was increased by £500 for all categories of property from 1 April 2020. This reflected feedback about increased costs of providing insulation received from all 32 councils and managing agents involved in delivery of the programme in
2019-20. Local councils can provide a higher intensity of grant-in-aid for households in extreme fuel poverty or other relevant factors, for example where there are additional costs due to non-standard construction type.