Boiler Scrappage Scheme
Philip Dunne raises concerns that many boilers fitted under the boiler scrappage scheme have external run-off pipes which can freeze in cold weather.
Mr. Philip Dunne (Ludlow) (Con): What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the boiler scrappage scheme against its objectives. [318554]
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Joan Ruddock): The boiler scrappage scheme commenced on 5 January this year and is proving to be highly successful. It has, to date, received more than 95,000 applications. The scheme contributes to DECC's objectives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the UK through reduced energy consumption and to ensure that the UK benefits from the business and employment opportunities of a low-carbon future. We estimate that the scheme will reduce CO2 emissions by between 1.1 million and 1.4 million tonnes a year.
Mr. Dunne: I am grateful to the Minister for that answer. I am not surprised, and I am encouraged to hear about the take-up, but is she aware that, when condensing boilers are retrofitted, the water run-off pipe is often fitted on the outside of a building? When those pipes freeze, as is happening in the current freezing conditions, the boilers break, with the result that households have no heat or hot water. What are the Government doing to stop that happening?
Joan Ruddock: From what the hon. Gentleman has said, perhaps Ministers ought to be taking a course in plumbing, although I must tell him that I have no plans to do so. I have a condensing boiler myself, and my external run-off pipe has not frozen, but he may be correct about this being something that we need to look into. However, I hope that he will not want to detract in any way from the great success of the boiler scrappage scheme and the huge savings in CO2 emissions-and therefore the good effects on climate change-that it is achieving.
