, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
I don't know if Christine wants to say something more about some of the discussions that you have with officials at local government, if that helps.
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
Diolch, Sioned. I think it’s a challenge, isn’t it, making sure that we get that best practice and good practice shared as widely as possible. Obviously, there is a route with the Welsh Local Government Association and how they work with local authorities…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
Sorry, Christine.
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
Absolutely, that Cwm Taf Morgannwg project sounds really exciting, doesn’t it, and interesting, because I think trying to identify—. It’s all about prevention, isn’t it, and that early intervention that we can get, which is what we all really want to see. As…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
Diolch, Jane. As I say, I think the programme is different in the sense that it is focusing on not just the immediate but also making sure that we're decarbonising homes in the future, so it is making sure that Nest, who are advising people, are looking at…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
Diolch, Jane. Obviously, as I said, it's a skills shortage across the UK as well as Wales, but we are, really, with our PAS 2035 standard, as I said, making sure that contractors provide training and support to all those working on that. Obviously, some of…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
Diolch, Jane. Absolutely, and as I was saying earlier, in terms of the skills that we have in Wales, it's finite, really, isn't it, at the moment. There's still a lot to do within that. I think that's one of the good things about this Warm Homes programme…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
I think I'll pass it over to my colleague Jane Hutt.
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
We work with the WLGA to bring local authorities together to share that best practice in relation to Warm Homes, Eco Flex and GBIS. It is clear that there are areas of good practice. I'm really keen to see how I can help in that and how we can share that good…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
The Welsh Government doesn't have any formal role in the ECO4 scheme, but we have been made aware of issues with the scheme, and when we have, we've raised that with the relevant UK Government officials. Last week, I had the opportunity to meet with the UK…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
Thank you, Mick. We've consulted with the WLGA and local authorities on what support they feel they need, and we've awarded them a further £500,000 for this financial year to redress the remaining barriers. I'm pleased to be able to say that we've been able…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
Diolch, Mick. As you said, the Welsh Government allocated £350,000 to local authorities in Wales to enable them to complete a statement of intent on the provision of ECO Flex schemes within their area. I'm pleased to report that every local authority in Wales…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
Officials are currently developing a monitoring and evaluation framework for the programme. It will be overseen by and reported to the programme board, with an input from the important fuel poverty advisory group as well. And as with the previous scheme…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
I might have to ask—.
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
Thank you, Mick. I thank the auditor general again for those recommendations. We have implemented several of those measures to provide assurance and governance under our new Warm Homes Nest programme. I can just say a few of those that might be helpful to the…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
I hear that. All I can do is say what the figures are that we've heard, and what I understand, which Christine has been able to explain as well, that there was that learning happening, and, I think, for British Gas, there was that time, but, as far as I'm…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
And I'm waiting still to get that advice on the extent, but as soon as we do we'll make sure you're aware of that.
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
So, from my understanding, there was no gap in that provision. Obviously, I've come in after this process but that's my understanding, and I feel reassured to know that those households were contacted to recontinue with their applications that were able to. I…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
So, I've been assured that there is no gap in the provision between the old scheme and the new scheme. There was a period in which British Gas were in mobilisation for the first six months of the scheme, just ensuring on boarding of contractors to deliver the…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
Not the figures that we've—. It's not what we've heard, no; less than 1 per cent.
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
Well, it's good to hear that and it will hopefully reassure you that that's what we're getting back as well, but, as I say, it's inevitable there will be some issues in such an early time. So, we'll keep an eye on that and make sure that that is still going…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
Yes, absolutely. Obviously, with a programme this size, it's inevitable that there'll be some customers who are unhappy with the service they receive, particularly when we've got a scheme that is in its infancy. But, proportionally, I understand those numbers…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
Yes, absolutely. I've heard from people within my own postbag, and other Members’, that this is an area that people are keen to hear more about. I'm expecting advice from officials very shortly, and I know 'shortly' could be—who knows when that is? But just…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
Yes, absolutely.
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Fuel poverty and the Warm Homes programme: Evidence session with Cabinet Secretaries
Yes, absolutely; we can write to you on that.
