Written question asked by Richard Younger-Ross (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 8 February 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 10 February 2010. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour) on Monday, 22 February 2010 on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

Death: Fuel Poverty

Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate she has made of the number of excess winter deaths of persons aged 65 or over attributable to fuel poverty in January 2010.

Answer: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated 9 February 2010:"As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what was the number of excess winter deaths of persons aged 65 or over attributable to fuel poverty in January 2010. (316862)""Estimates of excess winter deaths are based on the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding four months (August to November) and the following ""four months (April to July). Provisional estimated figures for excess winter mortality in the winter period 2009/10 will be published in November 2010.""It is not possible to say from the information collected at death registration whether excess winter deaths are attributable to fuel poverty or any other social or economic circumstances."

Secondary information