§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures the Government take to promote fuel direct; and what the uptake of fuel direct has been. [13899]
§ Malcolm Wicks[holding answer 12 November 2001]: Tackling fuel poverty is one of this Government's key priorities. A number of measures have been put in place to ensure that by 2010, no vulnerable household will have to struggle to heat their home when it's cold. These measures include the £200 winter fuel payment for households that qualified, cold weather payments, a cut in the level of VAT on fuel and radical improvements to the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme.
The fuel direct scheme provides valuable, last-resort protection against the threat of disconnection for people in receipt of income support and income-based jobseeker's allowance who are in arrears with their utility bills. Fuel companies generally make customers who have fallen into arrears aware of the scheme.
The latest available figures show that in May 20011 the fuel direct scheme was helping 55,900 people.
1 Data taken from the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Inquiry, (May 2001) and the Jobseeker's Allowance Quarterly Statistical Inquiry, (May 2001).