Local authorities shall make grants, in accordance with such schemes as may be prepared and published by the Secretary of State and laid by him before Parliament, towards the cost of works undertaken to improve the thermal insulation of dwellings in their district.

The grant shall be such percentage of the cost of the works qualifying for grant as may be prescribed, or such money sum as may be prescribed, whichever is the less.

A scheme may provide for grants to be made only to those applying on grounds of special need or to be made in those cases on a prescribed higher scale; and for this purpose “special need” shall be determined by reference to such matters personal to the applicant (such as age, disability, bad health and inability without undue hardship to finance the cost of the works) as may be specified in the scheme.

In this section, “prescribed” means prescribed by order of the Secretary of State made with the approval of the Treasury.

An order shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the House of Commons.