SUSPENSION OF HOUSEHOLD RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANTS

That this House notes that the demand for the monthly capped fund for household renewable energy grant awards provided by the Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) Low Carbon Buildings Programme has been so great that the funds have been running out on the first day they were available; welcomes the Chancellor's decision to provide £6 million of additional funding for the grants available under this programme in his Budget Statement; recognises the need for the renewable energy sector to have a stable and transparent market in which to operate; therefore expresses surprise at the DTI's decision within a few hours of the Budget Statement to suspend all household renewable energy grant awards until further notice; and consequently urges Ministers to reinstate the household renewable energy grant programme with immediate effect.