§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the proportion of pensioners who are, on his Department's definition, living in fuel poverty; and if he will provide separate estimates for pensioners aged(a) 65 to 69, (b) 70 to 79 and (c) 80 years or above. [80095]
§ Mr. MealeUsing data from the 1991 English House Condition Survey (EHCS) we estimate that some 77 per cent. of lone pensioners were in fuel poverty and a further 43 per cent. of older couples (at least one of whom was of pensionable age) were also fuel poor. Data are not readily available on the number of pensioners in larger households in fuel poverty.
The EHCS relates to households and so detailed information on ages is readily available only for the head of each household. In 1991, of heads of household aged 79W (a) 65 to 69, (b) 70 to 79 and (c) 80 years or more, we estimate that some 50 per cent., 58 per cent. and 80 per cent. respectively were fuel poor.
Provisional data from the 1996 EHCS show a welcome reduction in the number of households in fuel poverty. The data are currently being analysed and will be published in the 1996 EHCS Energy Report later this year.
This information is based on the standard definition of fuel poor households being those needing to spend more than 10 per cent. of household income to achieve a satisfactory indoor heating regime.