Written question asked by Alan Simpson (Labour) on Monday, 7 June 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 June 2004. It was answered by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Monday, 14 June 2004 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate the Government has made of the effect of an extension of the mains gas network to areas of England without such provision on the extent of fuel poverty; and if she will make a statement. - Inc figures.

Answer: Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate the Government have made of the effect of an extension of the mains gas network to areas of England without such provision on the extent of fuel poverty; and if she will make a statement. [178048] Mr. Timms: I have been asked to reply. The Department estimates that, based on figures for 2001, around 450,000 vulnerable, fuel poor households lacked access to mains gas, and that around 180,000 of those households might feasibly be connected to the mains gas network. The Department has been considering the possibility of funding for a programme to provide connection to deprived communities without mains gas. The Design and Demonstration Unit, which is based in DTI and designs and develops projects in support of White Paper objectives, has completed two pathfinder projects to provide gas connections to deprived communities, and is currently working on a third. It hopes to undertake more projects during 2004-05.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 178048; 422 c614W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Access Energy supply Distribution Fuel poverty Natural gas Pipelines
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk