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To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much spending has been allocated to improving heating and insulation standards in social housing in each year since 2000, by (a) local authorities and (b) registered social landlords; and if he will express this spending as a percentage of all social landlord expenditure...

Asked by

Alan Simpson (Labour)

Answering body

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

14 July 2005

For answer on

18 July 2005

Answered on

12 September 2005

Data are only available for local authorities and are set out in the following table. The figures show what local authorities have spent/plan to spend on improving heating and insulation.Over the period shown in the table, this represents 16 per cent. of all expenditure on remedial works.

Total LA expenditure on central heating and insulation
Financial year	£000
1999–2000	246,725
2000–01	283,033
2001–02	318,559
2002–03	333,034
2003–04	385,548
2004–05	405,352

Date

12 September 2005

Reference

13547; 436 c2438-9W;436 c2464W

House

House of Commons

Treasury

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will made adequate resources available for a programme fully to meet the requirements of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000.

Asked by

Alan Simpson (Labour)

Answering body

Treasury

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

22 June 2004

Reference

179294; 422 c1294W

House

House of Commons

DRAFT HOUSING BILL AND DECENT HOMES STANDARD FOR SOCIAL HOUSING

That this House welcomes the publication of the draft Housing Bill and the opportunity for honourable Members to comment on proposed legislation; believes that this Bill offers an excellent opportunity for dealing with fuel poverty by ensuring that minimum insulation and heating standards set for all social housing would, as...

Primary sponsor

Alan Simpson (Labour)

Type

Early day motions

Date

10 December 2003

Reference

264

House

House of Commons

FUEL POVERTY ADVISORY GROUP AND FUEL POVERTY OBJECTIVES

That this House welcomes the Government's commitment to end fuel poverty for vulnerable households and for all social sector tenants by 2010; notes that, despite considerable progress having been made towards achieving these objectives; the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group (FPAG} has concluded that a 50 per cent. increase in Government...

Primary sponsor

Alan Simpson (Labour)

Type

Early day motions

Date

10 December 2003

Reference

265

House

House of Commons

Dept for Work and Pensions

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to transform the winter fuel payments into a universal benefit; and if he will make a statement.

Asked by

Alan Simpson (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Work and Pensions

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

8 July 2003

Reference

123493; 408 c766W;408 c764W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Work and Pensions

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the cost of extending the winter fuel payment to the poorest and most vulnerable households who qualify for cold weather payments; and whether his Department plans such a measure. -Including figures.

Asked by

Alan Simpson (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Work and Pensions

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

8 July 2003

Reference

123491; 408 c766W;408 c764W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Work and Pensions

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate his Department's expenditure on winter fuel payments over the last five years; and what money was made available for investment in programmes to achieve affordable warmth over the same period. - Including table.

Asked by

Alan Simpson (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Work and Pensions

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

1 July 2003

For answer on

8 July 2003

Answered on

8 July 2003

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate his Department's expenditure on winter fuel payments over the last five years; and what money was made available for investment in programmes to achieve affordable warmth over the same period. [123490] Malcolm Wicks: The information is in the table. Expenditure on Winter Fuel Payments in Great Britain over the past five years £ million (cash) _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Winter Expenditure 1998-99 194 1999-2000 759 2000-01 1,749 2001-02 1,692 2002-03 1,712 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. The UK Fuel Poverty Strategy sets out a wide range of programmes to contribute to tackling fuel poverty by improving the comfort of vulnerable households. These include Warm Front and the Energy Efficiency Commitment 2002-05 under which energy suppliers must focus 50 per cent. of their energy saving target on low-income families. In England, the main Government expenditure is through the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme, now marketed as Warm Front. It is estimated that from April 1998 to March 2003, approximately £577 million has been spent on Warm Front grants. Similar schemes operate in Scotland and Wales.

Date

8 July 2003

Reference

123490; 408 c766W;408 c763-4W

House

House of Commons

DRAFT HOUSING BILL AND DECENT HOMES STANDARD FOR SOCIAL HOUSING

That this House welcomes the publication of the draft Housing Bill and the opportunity for honourable members to comment on proposed legislation; believes that this Bill offers an excellent opportunity for dealing with fuel poverty by ensuring that minimum insulation and heating standards set for all social housing would, as...

Primary sponsor

Alan Simpson (Labour)

Type

Early day motions

Date

24 June 2003

Reference

1464

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which of her Department's public service agreements relate to fuel poverty reduction; and what progress has been made in achieving them; what training is undertaken by individuals providing advice to households under the Warm Front scheme; and what...

Asked by

Alan Simpson (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

18 March 2003

For answer on

28 March 2003

Answered on

28 March 2003

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) which of her Department's public service agreements relate to fuel poverty reduction; and what progress has been made in achieving them; [104166] (2) 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; [104170] (3) 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; [104168] (4) 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 30 November 2000, Official Report, column 765; and if she will make a statement; [104164] (5) 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; [104172] (6) 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; [104167] (7) 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; [104163] (8) 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; [104171] (9) what progress has been made in establishing a common definition of fuel poverty for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; [104169] (10) 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. [104165] Mr. Morley: The PSA agreement relating to fuel poverty reduction in England, is included under Defra's objective 5, which is to promote sustainable management and prudent use of natural resources domestically and internationally. The PSA target is "to reduce fuel poverty among vulnerable households by improving the energy efficiency of 600,000 homes between 2001 and 2004". Good progress has been made against that target with around 500,000 households having received assistance so far. All surveyors are trained to either City and Guilds 6,176 or National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level 2 for energy efficiency awareness. Eaga's surveyors are trained to HNC/HND level for technical knowledge for buildings e.g. cavity wall insulation requirements, and customer service skills is provided to NVQ level 2. TXU's surveyors receive in-house training for customer service, first aid and health and safety. For the period June 2000 to October 2002, 28 private sector landlords were required to repay the costs measures installed under Warm Front. The annual budgets published 30 November 2000, Official Report, column 765 were the amounts allocated to tackle fuel poverty in England for the 2000-04 financial years, the bulk of which was to be spent on Warm Front. Expenditure on fuel poverty activity in 2001-02 was £202 million, of which £197 million was spent on Warm Front. The level of funding for 2002-03 for fuel poverty is £167 million. The level of funding for 2003-04 is still under discussion. However, the Government remain committed to meeting the PSA target of assisting 600,000 vulnerable homes by 2004 and the wider ranging requirements set out in the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy published November 2001, which, is underpinned, by the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000. Under the Energy Efficiency Commitment for 2002-05 (EEC), electricity and gas suppliers are required to meet targets for the promotion of improvements in domestic energy efficiency. We expect the costs of EEC for the next three years, which falls on the energy suppliers, to be around £465 million. Capital budgets of local authorities and registered social landlord energy efficiency programmes are the responsibility of the Deputy Prime Minister. The two Warm Front Scheme Managers were appointed following UK Public Procurement Rules and Regulations on the basis of price tendered. The recommendation to appoint Eaga Partnership and TXU Warm Front Limited was unanimously approved as offering best value by the Tender Selection Panel. The fees paid to the Scheme Managers consist of a fixed monthly element and a variable amount paid for each household where work has been completed and invoiced. The level of expenditure on administration of the scheme is a matter of commercial confidentiality. Assuming an average SAP increase of 19 points per property and based on the 1998 Energy Follow Up Survey data, it is estimated that the percentage of households in fuel poverty based on full income (including Housing Benefit or ISMI) and basic income (excluding Housing Benefit or ISMI) would fall to 9 per cent. and between 14-15 per cent. respectively. This compares with 16.4 per cent. and 22.3 per cent. respectively at the time of issue of the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy. However, it should be noted that while some properties may receive measures leading to a smaller SAP gain others may achieve a greater gain. The number of households eligible for Warm Front cannot be obtained from the information collected on benefits by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Inland Revenue. Figures on eligibility and take up of benefits are collected on the basis of benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. Benefit units do not correspond directly to households as there may be more than one benefit unit per household, whether that is because an individual is on more than one benefit or more than one recipient of a benefit is occupying the same household. The procedures used in estimating the take-up of a single benefit cannot be extended to combined benefits without making considerable assumptions/judgements. The figures produced would therefore be highly unreliable and due to the complexity involved would be achieved at highly disproportionate costs. Estimates of take-up of individual income-related benefits (income Support, Minimum Income Guarantee, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance) are produced by the Department for Work and Pensions . A report containing the latest statistics, entitled "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 1999/2000", is held in the Library. In the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy, published November 2001, the Government gave a commitment to working towards a consistent definition of fuel poverty across the UK. Whilst some progress has been made, there is not yet uniformity. In Scotland, the definition is now broadly in line with that agreed for England. One difference that remains is that the satisfactory heating regime for elderly and infirm households is set at 23ÝC in the main living area compared to the English definition of 21ÝC. The Welsh Assembly is still considering the position with respect to the definitions of income. They will monitor the number of households in fuel poverty using the same definition as in England. Northern Ireland's definition of fuel poverty will be subject to consultation. We are currently carrying out a review of Warm Front to look what it has delivered; the issues faced such as the link between fuel poverty and eligibility for assistance under Warm Front, solutions found, examples of best practice and future priorities. A report of that review will be produced during 2003.

Date

28 March 2003

Reference

402 c472-4W; 104166;104170;104168;104164;104172;104167;104163;104171;104169;104165

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent changes have been made to leasing arrangements in the provision of central heating systems through the Warm Front programme; and what provision is made for service and maintenance work to these installations.

Asked by

Alan Simpson (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

27 March 2003

Reference

99618; 402 c313W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Trade and Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which of her Department's Public Service Agreements relate to fuel poverty reduction; and what progress has been made to date in achieving them. - Includes figures.

Asked by

Alan Simpson (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Trade and Industry

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

31 October 2002

For answer on

7 November 2002

Answered on

7 November 2002

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which of her Department's Public Service Agreements relate to fuel poverty reduction; and what progress has been made to date in achieving them. [79500] Ms Hewitt: My Department has recently agreed a PSA target for 2003-2006 to ensure the UK ranks in the top 3 most competitive energy markets in the EU and G7 in each year, whilst on course to maintain energy security and to achieve fuel poverty objectives. We also have a joint target with DEFRA to improve the environment and the sustainable use of natural resources, including through the use of energy saving technologies, to help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. from 1990 levels and move towards a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010. Fuel poverty objectives will be measured using the relevant fuel poverty targets for England, as defined and set out in ``The UK Fuel Poverty Strategy'', The number of households in fuel poverty has been reducing since 1996 as has the number of vulnerable fuel poor. In broad terms it is estimated that the number of fuel poor households in England has fallen from about 4.3 million in 1996 to about 2.8 million in 2000 (when housing costs and ISMI are included as income), with the number of vulnerable fuel poor estimated to have fallen from about 3.0 million to about 2.3 million in the same time. The 2001 English House Condition Survey will update the information on the extent of fuel poverty in England. Results from this will be published in the annual update of the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy which should be published early in 2003.

Date

7 November 2002

Reference

392 c723-4W;392 c753W; 79500

House

House of Commons

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, which of his Department's Public Service Agreements relate to fuel poverty reduction; and what progress has been made to date in achieving them.

Asked by

Alan Simpson (Labour)

Answering body

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

7 November 2002

Reference

392 c605-6W;392 c620W; 79502

House

House of Commons

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will estimate the number of fuel-poor households who occupy dwellings that meet the Thermal Comfort criteria of the Decent Homes Standard; and how many households in this sector will remain fuel poor after all social housing complies with the standard. - Includes...

Asked by

Alan Simpson (Labour)

Answering body

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

7 November 2002

Reference

79504; 392 c606W;392 c620W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

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)...

Asked by

Alan Simpson (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

7 November 2002

Reference

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

House

House of Commons

Dept for Work and Pensions

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress has been made in developing improvements to the Fuel Direct scheme; what the purpose of an improved scheme will be; and by what date a revised scheme is likely to be in place.

Asked by

Alan Simpson (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Work and Pensions

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

6 November 2002

Reference

392 c406-7W;392 c312W; 79495

House

House of Commons

Dept of Trade and Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is the source of the figures for the number of fuel poor households which are not connected to the gas network given in paragraph 9.12 of the UK Fuel Poverty strategy; what the definition is of fuel poverty used...

Asked by

Alan Simpson (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Trade and Industry

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

19 December 2001

For answer on

24 January 2002

Answered on

24 January 2002

Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the source of the figures for the number of fuel poor households which are not connected to the gas network given in paragraph 9.12 of the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy; what the definition is of fuel poverty used in this paragraph; what verification of the figure has been carried out by (a) her Department and (b) independent bodies; and if she will make a statement. [25280] Mr. Wilson: Paragraph 9.12 of the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy states that around 1.3 million people without a gas supply in Great Britain are thought to be in fuel poverty. This figure is a broad estimate derived from estimates for England (0.9 million), Scotland (0.3 million) and Wales (0.05 million) based on official data sources. The production of these figures, and the overall estimate, have been overseen by members of the Government Statistical Service. England It is estimated that in 1998 there were approximately 0.9 million households in England which were fuel poor and did not have mains gas in the home (the householder stated that there was no gas supply in the home). The source of this information was the 1998 Energy Follow Up Survey which was carried out by the Building Research Establishment on behalf of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This figure has been derived under both main definitions of fuel poverty used in the Government's UK Fuel Poverty Strategy, set out as follows. There is a small difference (0.08 million) between the figures under these two definitions; however, both figures round to 0.9 million. (1) Fuel poverty defined as when a household needs to spend more than 10 per cent. of its income (including housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest) on fuel in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime; (2) Fuel poverty defined as when a household needs to spend more than 10 per cent. of its income (excluding housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest) on fuel in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime. A summary of the fuel poverty results from this survey is available at www.dti.gov.uk/energy/fuelpoverty/ index.htm Scotland It is estimated that in 1996 there were approximately 320,000 households in Scotland which were fuel poor and did not have a mains gas supply in the home (i.e. there was neither a gas meter, nor a mains gas pipe in the home). This is the latest information available for Scotland. The source of this information is the 1996 Scottish House Condition Survey which is carried out on behalf of the Scottish Executive. The definition of fuel poverty which was used is that a household needs to spend 10 per cent. or more of income (including housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest) on all fuel use. Wales It is estimated that in 1997-98 there were approximately 50,000 households in Wales which were fuel poor and did not have a mains gas supply in the home. This is derived from information from the 1998 Welsh House Condition Survey which was carried out on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales. The estimate of fuel poverty in Wales is based on the number of households eligible for assistance through the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (222,000 in 1997-98). Figures are not currently available under definitions of fuel poverty, and this "eligibility measure" is used as a proxy.

Date

24 January 2002

Reference

378 c1056-7W; 25280

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the age and status are of children in a household for that household to be deemed vulnerable under the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy; and how many such households with children there are in (a) private sector housing...

Asked by

Alan Simpson (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

17 January 2002

Reference

378 c482-3W;378 c478-9W; 26425;26424

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average cost of fuel required to heat a home to a reasonable level of warmth is for properties that are (a) connected to the gas network and (b) not connected to the gas network. - Including...

Asked by

Alan Simpson (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

19 December 2001

For answer on

15 January 2002

Answered on

15 January 2002

Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average cost of fuel required to heat a home to a reasonable level of warmth is for properties that are (a) connected to the gas network and (b) not connected to the gas network. [25281] Mr. Meacher: The table sets out the average heating and hot water costs for a typical semi-detached house. The data are derived using the BRE Domestic Energy Model with average fuel costs from SAP 2001 and is based on: Property with a floor area of 89 sq. metres. Home heated to a temperature of 21 degrees C in the main living area, whole house heated. Loft insulation installed. Standard heating pattern of two hours in the morning and seven hours in the evening during weekdays, and 16 hours/day at weekends. The actual costs incurred by householders can vary greatly according to the construction of the property, the age and type of heating systems and occupation patterns. A discussion of these varying costs for fuel poor households is provided at Annexe D of the consultation paper, "Fuel Poverty: The New HEES" published in May 1999. £ per year _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Heating and hot water cost for home Heating system With cavity wall insulation With uninsulated cavity walls With solid walls Connected to the mains gas network Using high-efficiency gas-fired 200 270 310 central heating system Not connected to the mains gas network Using an oil-fired central 210 290 340 heating systems Using an electric storage heating 495 675 785 system _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Date

15 January 2002

Reference

25281; 378 c270-2W;378 c284-6W

House

House of Commons

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what he estimates to be the reduction in numbers of fuel-poor households since 1996 and the amount of reduction attributed to (a) improved energy efficiency, (b) reduced fuel prices and (c) increased household income. - Includes figures.

Asked by

Alan Simpson (Labour)

Answering body

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

11 January 2001

For answer on

18 January 2001

Answered on

18 January 2001

Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what he estimates to be the reduction in numbers of fuel-poor households since 1996 and the amount of reduction attributed to (a) improved energy efficiency, (b) reduced fuel prices and (c) increased household income. [145764] Mr. Meacher: Using data from the 1996 English House Condition Survey (EHCS), it was estimated that in 1996 there were either 4.3 million or 5.3 million households in fuel poverty using the definitions at (a) and (b) respectively. (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. Since the last EHCS there have been a number of significant Government policy developments that have moved households away from fuel poverty. These include: increases in household income due to the introduction of Working Families Tax Credit, the minimum wage and other changes to the benefit and tax systems; and reduced fuel prices resulting from the lowering of VAT on fuel, effective regulation and the liberalisation of the fuel supply market. Provisional estimates suggest that the number of fuel poor households fell by nearly 1 million between 1996 and 1999 under both definitions, due to reductions in energy prices and improved incomes. Data were not available to estimate the effect of improvements made to the energy efficiency of homes during the period, nor for changes in the composition or economic activity of households. However, it is likely that the significant drop in the number of unemployed over this period will also have reduced the number of fuel poor. Analysis of the components of the reduction in the number of fuel poor households indicates that: a fall of around 0.7 million could be attributed to the reduction in household energy bills from energy price changes alone; If energy prices had been assumed to be unchanged, then income improvements alone are estimated as taking some 0.4 million households out of fuel poverty. About 0.1 million households would have been moved out of fuel poverty by either change. A follow-up study to the 1996 EHCS was carried out in 1998. Data from the study are in the process of being prepared and the first analysis should be complete during 2001. This should help to confirm the accuracy of the 1999 estimates. The next full EHCS will be carried out in 2001. Fuel poverty is a devolved matter and it is the responsibility of the respective Parliament and Assemblies to comment on the situation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Date

18 January 2001

Reference

361 c293-5W; 145764

House

House of Commons

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many households are defined as fuel-poor on the basis of (a) income including housing benefit and mortgage interest support, (b) income excluding housing benefit and mortgage interest support and (c) income excluding housing expenditure. - Includes...

Asked by

Alan Simpson (Labour)

Answering body

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

11 January 2001

For answer on

18 January 2001

Answered on

18 January 2001

Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many households are defined as fuel-poor on the basis of (a) income including housing benefit and mortgage interest support, (b) income excluding housing benefit and mortgage interest support and (c) income excluding housing expenditure. [145766] Mr. Meacher: The common definition of a fuel poor household is one that needs to spend in excess of 10 per cent. of household income in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime. Using data from the latest English House Condition Survey, the table shows the effect of different options for calculating household income on the number of households defined as fuel poor in 1996. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Number of households defined as fuel poor Fuel poor households as a percentage of in England in 1996{ 1} (Million) all households in England{ 2} (a) Income including Housing Benefit and 4.3 22 Income Support for mortgage interest (b) Income excluding Housing Benefit and 5.3 27 Income Support for mortgage interest (c) Income excluding housing expenditure 6.8 35 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} Assumes fuel costs include those for non-heating purposes. {2} Total number of households in England in 1996 was 19.6 million. As would be expected, when housing expenditure is excluded from household income, the overall household income decreases and hence the number of households defined as fuel poor rises. Fuel poverty is a devolved matter and it is the responsibility of the respective Parliament and Assemblies to comment on the situation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Date

18 January 2001

Reference

361 c294W; 145766

House

House of Commons

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