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Nick Harvey MPStanding up for North Devon since 1992 |
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GOVERNMENT MOVES TO IMPROVE WARMFRONT SCHEME
July 29, 2009 1:28 PM
Nick Harvey notes, 'Following lobbying by myself and my Liberal Democrat colleagues the Government has agreed to take steps to improve the quality of service with the Warm Front scheme (designed to help improve the heating of the vulnerable).
Commencing in September the new system will be phased out across England with full coverage by 1 May 2010, this primarily aimed at reducing installation costs and improve quality control.
After complaints about contractor flexibility and competitiveness under the new arrangements up to 35% of the work will be allocated to appointed installers at new competitive prices. For the other 65% of the work registered installers will be able to bid via an electronic auction to establish the lowest price. Where a household contribution is required the householder will be able to select from the three lowest bidders.
At present eaga (the company that oversees Warm Front) can use their in-house installation companies for up to 30% of the work. This is to stop with all installers being subject to the bidding process.
While this offers an improvement to the existing scheme I would have preferred all work being subject to competitive tendering. Nonetheless I hope the new scheme will encourage more local companies to bid for Warm Font work.
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