SNIPEF AND CLE ASK GOVERNMENT TO EXTEND BOILER SCRAPPAGE SCHEME.

In a recent paper submitted to the Finance and Energy Ministers, SNIPEF and the CLE (Construction Licensing Executive) have asked the Scottish Government to:

a) Expand the proposed boiler scrappage scheme to include E and F SEDBUK rated boilers ;

b) Ensure that consumers are advised that replacing an E, F or G rated boiler is often going to mean more than just simply replacing their boiler; and

c) That all installations must be undertaken by SNIPEF/CLE Licensed businesses who are qualified and competent and who offer consumers the safeguard of an independent third party complaints process and a no cost warranty scheme. 

Both SNIPEF and the CLE have said that to qualify for a grant, the Scottish Government MUST ensure that installations are only undertaken by a SNIPEF/CLE licensed plumbing or heating business. The Scottish Government has previously acknowledged its support for CLE in its efforts to isolate rogue traders and promote best practice in the Scottish construction industry (Jim Mather MSP, Parliamentary Written Answers , April 2008).

Using a member of the CLE means that consumers will have access, if required, to an independent complaints system if they are unhappy with the quality or cost of any work carried out. They would also benefit from the no-cost warranty scheme offered by the scheme providers. This means that if, for example, a customer has poor work undertaken and the business fails to carry out remedial work directed by the scheme Complaints Panel or goes out of business before such work is completed then the Licensing Scheme would pay for such work to be put right. 

No details have yet been announced by the Government over the final amount of grants which will be available nor the likely date the scheme will start from.

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCE THAT A BOILER SCRAPPAGE SCHEME WILL APPLY IN SCOTLAND.

SNIPEF has given a cautious welcome to the announcement by the Scottish Finance Minister, John Swinney, that a Boiler Scrappage Scheme will be introduced in Scotland.

SNIPEF Director, Robert Burgon, said “The decision to introduce a Boiler Scrappage Scheme in Scotland will be welcomed by both householders and the plumbing and heating industry alike.  However, the £2M which has been allocated for the Scheme represents less than 5% of the total amount which has been set aside for the Scheme which currently applies in England. If the same grant of £400 is given in Scotland then only 5000 householders will benefit compared with 125,000 in England”.

Robert continued “We are still unaware of the details of how a Scheme will work but we hope that the Government will not only consider the issue of the type of boilers which are to be replaced but also the requirements of the installers who will carry out this work. We have already offered our support to officials as they develop the terms of the Scheme and look forward to that process. There is clearly demand for such a scheme in Scotland- our e-petition on the Scottish Parliament website has attracted almost 300 signatures in just a few days and we are sure that the supporters of such a scheme will be pleased to learn of the introduction of the scheme. ”

We are still encouraging people to sign our e-petition to highlight how important this issue is and to help focus the government's mind on how a scheme will operate.

We believe that the Boiler Scrappage Scheme (currently only applying in England) should be extended to Scotland for the following reasons:

1. Such incentive schemes work
The car scrappage scheme (on which the boiler scrappage scheme was based) has had a significant impact in encouraging car owners to replace older, inefficient and environmentally unfriendly vehicles. It is believed that a boiler scrappage scheme would have a similar effect in relation to encouraging the replacement of inefficient central heating boilers.

2. The scheme would help the environment
Scotland is correctly seen as a leader in the global quest to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. We regret the fact that Scotland is not currently involved in the innovative scheme introduced in England which will make a clear and speedy impact on the reduction of such emissions. The Energy Saving Trust (EST) believes that central heating boilers account for 60% of the carbon dioxide emissions in a gas heated home. It claims that if everyone in the UK with gas central heating installed a high efficiency condensing boiler, we would save 6.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, as much as the annual emissions of 1.2.Million homes.

The Scheme which has been introduced in England will provide financial incentives to enable the installation of 125,000 new high efficiency boilers which the Westminster Government claims is the equivalent of taking 45,000 cars off the road. Changes to the Scottish Building Regulations in 2007 meant that any new boiler fitted must be a condensing high efficiency model which means that there is a guaranteed environmental benefit from a boiler scrappage scheme (unlike the car scrappage scheme under which inefficient new vehicles could be purchased).

3. Consumers would enjoy lower utility bills
With recent dramatic increases in fuel prices and the likely continuing increase in gas and oil particularly, the incidence of fuel poverty will continue to increase. Householders with older, inefficient boilers are doubly affected as their boilers use more of the expensive fuel than would be the case with a modern replacement boiler. It is believed that a new ‘A’ rated condensing boiler and better controls could reduce the household fuel bills by up to a quarter (where an old ‘G’ rated boiler is being replaced).

The following table is taken from the DEFRA Boiler Efficiency website (www.sedbuk.com) which shows the actual savings which could be obtained if a new boiler is installed:

4. Support for businesses and employment
The credit crunch and economic recession have had a significant negative impact on many of Scotland’s plumbing and heating businesses (the majority of which are micro businesses). Workload has decreased, there has been significant downward pressure on prices (which were already extremely competitive) and many plumbers and heating engineers have been made redundant.

A Scottish boiler replacement scheme would provide a much needed boost to the plumbing and heating industry and its workforce in Scotland. While in England installation must be carried out by a Competent Person’s Scheme (which do not apply in Scotland) we propose that in order to qualify for the incentive householders must engage the services of an installer which is registered with the Construction Licensing Executive (CLE) Plumbing Industry Licensing Scheme. In addition, gas systems must be installed by an installer registered with Gas Safe Register.

5. A Scottish scheme would reduce consumer and installer confusion
The existing English scheme has been widely promoted in all aspects of the media across the United Kingdom which has led to significant confusion both within the industry and among consumers. SNIPEF members have reported customer awareness of the Scheme and have received requests for information and many householders are putting off work until such time that the Scottish Government makes an announcement.


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Industry Supporters

"Introduction of a Boiler Scrappage scheme will re-inforce Scotland's commitment to be a world leader in cutting carbon emissions and will see real savings for householders in the cost of their fuel bills".

Alistair Mowat, SNIPEF President

“A scheme to replace inefficient boilers in Scotland would be of huge benefit to both homeowners and the Scottish heating industry as a whole.  Householders will benefit from lower fuel bills, boiler distributors and merchants will benefit from an increased demand for high efficiency A rated condensing boilers and registered installers will benefit from increased numbers of installations.”

Robert Beagley, Regional Trading Director, Plumb Center

"PTS actively supported the campaign to introduce the boiler scrappage scheme in England and firmly supports the SNIPEF petition to the Scottish Parliament to bring a similar scheme north of the border.  We believe a scrappage scheme can make a significant contribution towards the eradication of fuel poverty and give plumbing and heating installers a welcome commercial boost”.

Kevin Dermidy, PTS Area Director for Scotland

"The plumbing and heating industry in Scotland need the Boiler Scrappage Scheme extended to cover Scotland. Not only will this stimulate the plumbing and heating sector with regards sales of new energy efficient boilers and provide installers, manufacturers and merchants with much needed additional work, but it will also help deliver significant sustainability benefits for Scotland and the UK”

Alex Inglis, Contract Sales Director North, Graham Group.