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Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Answer

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the proportion of pensioners living in fuel poverty aged (a) 65 to 69, (b) 70 to 79 and (c) 80 years and above broken down by (i) Government offices of the regions, (ii) groups of authorities with similar characteristics and (iii) area types based on the English House Conditions Survey Data for (A) 1991 and (B) 1996. [136221] Mr. Meacher: There are two main definitions of a fuel poor household: (a) If, in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime, it would be required to spend more than 10 per cent. of all income (including Housing Benefit and Income Support for Mortgage Interest) on all household fuel use. (b) If, in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime, it would be required to spend more than 10 per cent. of its income (excluding Housing Benefit and Income Support for Mortgage Interest) on all household fuel use. The 1991 English House Condition Survey (EHCS) was based on a smaller sample of homes, and collected less information on each, compared to the 1996 survey. As a result it is not possible to provide the information requested without undue expenditure, and indeed if at all. The information that is available is shown in the table and is based on the definition at (b) above. Number of fuel poor households{ 1} aged 60 years or more based on data from the 1991 English House Condition Survey _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Household type Percentage of households in fuel poverty Total number of households (thousands) Couple aged 60 or more 44 3,096 One person aged 60 or more 80 2,840 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} Based on the definition at (b) above. Using data from the 1996 EHCS, the tables set out the breakdown of older fuel poor households by Government office region and also by type of location. In order to be statistically valid, some of the categories requested have been grouped together. A breakdown is not available on the basis of groups of local authorities which have similar characteristics. Number of fuel poor households aged 60 years in each Government office region based on data from the 1996 English House condition Survey _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Government office region Age category (years) Percentage of fuel poor Percentage of fuel poor Total number of using definition (a) using definition (b) households (thousands) North East 60 to 74 46 51 245 75 or above 47 54 108 Yorkshire and Humber 60 to 74 36 38 400 75 or above 55 67 269 North West 60 to 74 38 43 613 75 or above 38 49 332 East Midlands 60 to 74 32 36 381 75 or above 45 51 189 West Midlands 60 to 74 36 40 497 75 or above 54 61 222 South West 60 to 74 34 36 451 75 or above 43 49 300 Eastern 60 to 74 26 30 555 75 or above 43 50 246 South East 60 to 74 22 26 629 75 or above 35 37 384 Greater London 60 to 74 24 30 508 75 or above 41 49 234 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Number of fuel poor households aged 60 years or more in urban/rural area based on data from the 1996 English House Condition Survey _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Area type{ 1} Age category (years) Percentage of fuel poor Percentage of fuel poor Total number of using definition (a) using definition (b) households (thousands) Urban 60 to 74 31 35 3,289 75 to 84 38 45 1,422 85 or above 46 57 338 Rural 60 to 74 33 36 990 75 to 84 55 57 401 85 or above 62 71 124 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} Urban includes city centre and suburban residential homes. Rural includes rural residential and village centre homes.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

356 c483-6W;356 c483-5W; 136221

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Costs Fuel poverty Heating Pensioners Older people

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk