§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the number of(a) people and (b) households in the Buckingham constituency that are in fuel poverty. [32183]
§ Mr. WilsonBased on changes in incomes and fuel prices it is estimated that in 2000 there were 2.8 million households in fuel poverty in England (based on income including housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest), or 3.9 million households (based on income excluding housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest), representing falls of 15 per cent, and 13 per cent, respectively compared to 1998.
The following table presents estimates of the number of people and the number of households in England in fuel poverty in 1998, the latest year for which estimates of the number of people in fuel poverty are available. Figures are presented under both definitions of fuel poverty as set out in the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy, published on 21 November 2001.
1066W
Fuel poverty in England in 1998 Million People Households Fuel poverty defined using income including housing benefit and ISMI1 6.2 3.3 Fuel poverty defined using income excluding housing benefit and ISMI2 8.7 4.5 1Fuel 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. 2Fuel 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.
Source:
1998 Energy Follow Up Survey to the English House Condition Survey.
In 1998, it was estimated that 268,000 households in the region covered by the Government office for the south-east were in fuel poverty (based on income including housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest). This represents 8.3 per cent, of households in the south-east region and 8.2 per cent of all households in fuel poverty in England.
When income excluding housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest is considered, 406,000 households in the region covered by the Government office for the south-east were in fuel poverty (based on income including housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest). This represents 12.6 per cent, of households in the south-east region and 9.1 per cent, of all households in fuel poverty in England.
The numbers in fuel poverty in Buckingham will make up a small proportion of those in fuel poverty in the south-east Government office region. Data are not available centrally to produce estimates of fuel poverty in the Buckingham constituency.