Written question asked by Helen Clark (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 July 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 September 2003. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Monday, 1 September 2003 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, what assessment she has made of (a) whether there is a need to increase the budget for the warm front programme and (b) whether the fuel poverty reduction targets will be met. - Including figures and ref to Annual Report on Progress under the Fuel Poverty Strategy.

Answer: Mrs. Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of (a) whether there is a need to increase the budget for the warm front programme and (b) whether the fuel poverty reduction targets will be met. [126717] Mr. Bradshaw: A budget of £156 million has been made available to tackle fuel poverty in the current financial year. This will enable continued delivery of energy efficiency measures to some of the most vulnerable members of society. It will also help us to achieve our PSA target of assisting 600,000 households between 2001 and 2004. Government's first Annual Report on Progress under the Fuel Poverty Strategy showed good progress in the reduction of the number of households in fuel poverty. We are committed to report annually. Future budgets for tackling fuel poverty will be considered as part of the normal process.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 126717; 409 c838-9W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Conservation Energy Households Fuel poverty Heating Warm front scheme
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk