Explanatory note

The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (England) Regulations 2000 enable the Secretary of State to make or arrange for the making of grant for the improvement of energy efficiency in dwellings occupied by persons on low incomes with children, elderly persons on low incomes and persons in receipt of benefit relating to ill health or disability. These Regulations amend the 2000 Regulations as follows.

Regulation 2(2) alters the list of persons eligible to apply for a grant to include any person who is in receipt of child tax credit or working tax credit (provided for by the Tax Credits Act 2002) and has a relevant income of less than £14,200. Regulation 2(3) sets the amount of the maximum grant payable to such applicants.

In addition these Regulations seek to address defects in the drafting of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2002, which had amended the 2000 Regulations. Regulation 3(a) of the 2002 Regulations added to the list of persons eligible to apply for a grant, a person who is, or who is living with a spouse who is, in receipt of one of certain specified benefits, and who is, or who is living with a spouse who is, a person in respect of whom a maternity certificate has been given. By virtue of regulation 2(2) of these Regulations such a woman must still be pregnant at the time the application for a grant is made and the certificate must have been granted in respect of the pregnancy concerned. Regulation 2(3) sets the amount of the maximum grant payable in such cases.