§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many(a) single pensioners, (b) older couples and (c) families with children are recognised as fuel poor; and what the figures were in each year since 1997. [77450]
§ Mr. WilsonI have been asked to reply.
The numbers in fuel poverty in England in 1998 were published jointly by DTI and DEFR A in August 2001 and in the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy published in November 2001. They are available on the DTI website at: "http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/consumers/fuel" http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/consumers/fuell—poverty/1998estimates—england.pdf
It is estimated that in 1998 there were (a) 1.2 million households containing a single person over the age of 60, (b) 0.7 million households with older couples, and (c) 0.5 million households containing children in fuel poverty in England (based on income including Housing Benefit and Income Support for Mortgage Interest). When Housing Benefit and Income Support for Mortgage Interest are excluded from the definition of income, the figures become (a) 1.5 million households containing a single person over the age of 60, (b) 0.8 million households with older couples, and (c) 0.9 million households containing children in fuel poverty in England in 1998.
The 2001 English House Condition Survey will update this information and the information on the extent of fuel poverty in England generally. Results from this will be published in the update of the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy which should be published early in 2003.
Fuel poverty is a devolved matter and therefore it is for the respective Assemblies and Parliament to report on the situation in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
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§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what procedures are in place to monitor the number of(a) single pensioners, (b) older couples and (c) families with children who are fuel poor. [77451]
§ Mr. WilsonI have been asked to reply.
The Government's Fuel Poverty Strategy was published in November 2001 and sets out the proposals for monitoring the numbers in fuel poverty.
The monitoring of progress in tackling fuel poverty will be taken forward in two ways. Firstly the actual number of households in fuel poverty will be monitored, in particular for vulnerable groups such as pensioner households and households with children. Secondly, progress on the factors that affect fuel poverty (income. fuel prices and housing) will be monitored. These factors are referred to as indicators of fuel poverty and they include background information on issues relevant to those in fuel poverty. Together these two approaches should enable progress on tackling fuel poverty to be monitored.
In England, the monitoring of the actual number of households in fuel poverty will be carried out using information collected through the English House Condition Survey. Fuel poverty is a devolved matter and therefore it is for the respective Assemblies and Parliament to report on the situation in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.