§ Ms AthertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the rationale is behind the cut-off point of £14,200 for household income above which a family in receipt of working tax credit will not qualify for assistance through the Warm Front scheme. [150436]
§ Mr. MorleyThis cut-off point was established to help target those on low incomes and therefore more likely to be in fuel poverty.
The eligibility criteria for Warm Front are broadly in line with the low income priority group for the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC). In a consultation document on the changes to the tax credit system affecting the priority group for the EEC, published by the Department in December 2002, a cut-off point of around £14,000 was proposed for child tax credit and working tax credit.
Following that consultation and consideration of the responses received, a cut-off point of £14,200 was set for the EEC. To maintain consistency, this was also introduced to the eligibility criteria for Warm Front.