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Fuel Poverty

There is certainly a strong case for that. In my comments, I used the term ““the oldest and most vulnerable””. There is a case for such an extension, but I also accept that a line has to be drawn somewhere. People with young children can be in a very difficult situation if they live in housing that is not properly heated or is energy-inefficient. More could be done, using the energy efficiency commitment and its successor, to ensure that schemes are operated in an integrated manner to provide energy advice locally. Scottish and Southern Energy, and other companies, have made an interesting proposal to develop a single fuel poverty scheme, bringing together both the central heating programmes and the social aspects of energy efficiency commitments. Such proposals are worth investigating. Finally, on energy conservation, a major effort must be made to improve the take-up of such schemes among private landlords to benefit their tenants. The full opportunity of taking up such energy efficiency and conservation measures has not yet been developed in that area in the way that it has for people living in various types of social housing. I could say much more, but I want to allow my colleagues to contribute to the debate. Although I have taken quite a few interventions, I do not want to take up any more time on this important subject today. I conclude by noting that fuel poverty is not just about budgets and incomes. As my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Dr. Gibson) pointed out, it is a matter of life and death for the many people who are forced to live in cold and damp conditions in their homes. Hundreds of thousands more will suffer as a result of recent increases in gas and electricity prices unless something is done about this issue now. The Government set themselves an ambitious target to eradicate fuel poverty by 2010, and I know that my hon. Friend the Minister has been closely associated with that noble vision, both as a Member of Parliament and before he was elected. The difficulties being encountered in reaching that target should not lead us to lower our ambitions. Instead, we should redouble our efforts to ensure that we reach it and that that noble vision becomes a reality.