Written question asked by Alan Simpson (Labour) on Thursday, 31 October 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 November 2002. It was answered by Michael Meacher (Labour) on Thursday, 7 November 2002 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

---

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will estimate how many households would be taken out of fuel poverty if their properties were to be improved by the average SAP rating achieved by Warm Front and Warm Front plus assistance; what funding (a) was available for the Warm Front scheme in 2001-02 and 2002-03 and (b) will be available in 2003-04; how such funding relates to the annual budgets set out in the statement of 30th November 2000, Official Report, column 765; and if she will make a statement; what research has been carried out into the match between fuel poverty and eligibility for Warm Front assistance; and if she will make a statement; which of her Department's Public Service Agreements relate to fuel poverty reduction; and what progress has been made in achieving them; what assessment has been made of the administration costs incurred by the two Warm Front scheme managers in terms of (a) cost effectiveness and (b) efficiency programmes; in how many cases private sector landlords have been obliged to repay costs of heating and insulation installations as a result of properties that have benefited from Warm Front no longer being occupied by eligible tenants; what progress has been made on establishing a common definition of fuel poverty for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; what training is undertaken by individuals providing advice to households under the Warm Front scheme; and what formal qualification verifies that the adviser is a skilled and competent person; how many households are eligible for (a) Warm Front grants and (b) Warm Front plus grants; and by how many these numbers would be increased if there were to be 100 per cent take up of the qualifying benefits; what resources are expected to be expended on domestic energy efficiency improvements over the next three years through (a) the Warm Front Programme, (b) the Energy Efficiency Commitment, (c) capital budgets of local authorities and (d) Registered Social Landlord energy efficiency programmes.

---

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

392 c684W;392 c697W; 79512;79508;79506;79514;79510;79505;79513;79509;79507;79511

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Conservation Finance Expenditure Energy Grants Fuel poverty Housing improvement Insulation Heating Fuels Warm front scheme Poverty Operating costs

Link

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