The Scottish Executive's Central Heating Programme and the Warm Deal Annual Report 2003-04: BENEFITS FROM HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY SCHEMES IN SCOTLAND 2003-04: A REPORT BY THE SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Description and history of the Central Heating Programme
The Scottish Executive's Central Heating Programme was introduced in 2001-02 and is now in its third year. It comes in two parts:
- Eaga Partnership administers the part of the programme for households in the private sector who are aged 60 or more and lack central heating, or who have a heating system which is broken and beyond repair; and
- Social sector landlords (local authorities and housing associations) deliver the part of the Programme for their tenants whose home lacks any central heating system.
Priority
Under both parts of the programme priority is given, where it is practicable to do so, to the over 75s, those living alone, and the disabled.
Targets
The Executive has stated that it will meet the following targets:
- all local authority stock that lacks central heating is to have it by 31 March 2004. This has been achieved;
- all housing association stock which lacks central heating is to have it during 2004 except Glasgow Housing Association; and
- provide an estimated 40,000 owner-occupiers and private renters without central heating with a central heating system by March 2006. By March 2004, 19,260 heating systems had been installed.
The package
Under both parts of the Programme beneficiaries receive:
- an efficient and modern central heating system (from a choice of gas, electric, oil or solid fuel);
- insulation (where possible - cavity wall fill, lagging of boiler and pipes, loft insulation, draft exclusion measures);
- if appropriate - safety alarms (carbon monoxide detector, a smoke alarm and a cold alarm); and
- advice on energy use and the option of receiving a benefit entitlement check.
The Central Heating Programme (administered by Eaga)
Eaga installed the central heating package described in the paragraph above in 10,200 homes across Scotland at a cost of £30.34 million.
The Central Heating Programme (administered by local authorities and housing associations)
Local authorities and housing associations continue to play a significant role in delivering the Central Heating Programme. They were paid a cash grant by the Scottish Executive and by Communities Scotland (formerly Scottish Homes) respectively for each house in which the central heating package was to be installed.
Twelve of the 32 local authorities and 29 housing associations in Scotland participated in the programme in 2003-04. In line with one of the key priorities of the programme, consideration was also given to maximising the number of installations to members of priority household groups.
Local authority participation
£9.594 million was spent by local authorities on grants in 2003-04 which installed the package described above in 3,878 properties. A list of the local authorities participating in the Central Heating Programme is given in Appendix 2.
Participation by housing associations
Housing associations spent £6.6 million under the Central Heating Programme and installed the package in 2,710 properties. A list of the housing associations participating in the Central Heating Programme is given in Appendix 2.
The Central Heating Programme - partial heating systems
In 2003-04 the Central Heating Programme was expanded to allow local authorities to improve properties with partial central heating systems. Twelve local authorities participated in this scheme, spending just over £2 million improving 803 properties. A list of the local authorities participating in the Central Heating Programme - partial heating systems is given in Appendix 2.