§ Mrs. GilroyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate in which year fuel poverty will be eliminated at the present levels of Government expenditure and resource commitment and under current policies; and what plans he has for further steps which could bring this date forward. [99113]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithThe Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry, my right hon. Friend the Member for Airdrie and Shotts (Mrs. Liddell) announced on 11 November that she and Lord Whitty will jointly chair an inter-Ministerial group to examine the way ahead on fuel poverty. The group will consider the impact of Government programmes to tackle the causes of fuel poverty, as well as the liberalisation of the energy markets which has substantially reduced the cost of keeping warm. In this way, the group will gain a more accurate picture of the extent of the problem and how quickly it can be addressed.