Written question asked by Lord Vinson (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Marland (Conservative) on Tuesday, 1 November 2011.

Energy: Fuel Poverty

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Marland on 21 October (WA 104–5), whether they will estimate the effects of environmental policies on (a) fuel cost per household, and (b) fuel poverty; and, if so, when.

Answer: Assessments of the impact of individual policies are made and published in the relevant impact assessment for each policy. These assessments typically contain estimates of the impacts of the policies on household bills and fuel poverty. For example, the recent impact assessment for the extension of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target estimated the impact on domestic energy bills and fuel poverty: http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/consultations/certextension/121-iacertextension.pdf. DECC also published Estimated Impacts of Energy and Climate Change on Energy Prices and Bills in July 2010: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en./content/cms/about/ec_social_res/analytic_projs/price_bill_imp/price_bill _imp.aspx. This presented the estimated combined impact of policies on energy costs faced by households. This analysis is due to be updated to account for policy announcements since July 2010 alongside the forthcoming annual energy statement later this year. Work to model the combined impacts of all of these policies on fuel poverty has not been undertaken and is not planned. Modelled estimates of the fuel poverty impacts of individual policies contain a degree of uncertainty within them, as they are dependent on household circumstances, incomes and dwelling characteristics which will change in the future. Combining a number of policies into a single fuel poverty impact estimate would significantly increase the level of uncertainty associated with the estimate.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 12818; 731 c230WA
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Energy: Fuel Poverty
Friday, 21 October 2011
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Environment protection Energy Fuel poverty Prices
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk