PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Housing: Energy (20 February 2017)

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many fuel-poor households require bringing up to the minimum band C energy efficiency standard by 2030; and what steps the Government is taking to bring such households up to that standard.

Asked by:
Kerry McCarthy (Labour)

The latest official fuel poverty statistics show that there are 2.2 million fuel poor households in England living in a home with an energy efficiency rating of Band D or lower.

Government recently confirmed plans to reform the Energy Company Obligation, which is worth £640m per year and requires the large energy suppliers to improve household energy efficiency. In 2017-18, 70% of the support under the scheme will be directed at low income households. This represents an increase from £310m to £450m of funding per year.

Energy companies are also required to provide over 2 million low income and vulnerable households with a £140 rebate off their energy bill each winter, under the Warm Home Discount Scheme, which is worth £320m per year.

These policies combined will see at least £770m of support for low income and vulnerable households in 2017/18.

Answered by:
Jesse Norman (Conservative)
23 February 2017