Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Fuel Poverty

Tuesday 28 November 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Anne McLaughlin asked about the Department's assessment of fuel poverty trends since 2018, noting a reduction in households in fuel poverty in England from 2010 to 2021 due to energy efficiency improvements.
  • Anne McLaughlin suggested declaring access to energy a human right to combat fuel poverty and protect against disconnection.
  • The Government responded, emphasizing their commitment to addressing fuel poverty and mentioned initiatives such as a 900 cost of living allowance.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Anne McLaughlin SNP
Economy Energy Environment
Context

The question is prompted by concerns over the trend of fuel poverty in England since 2018. Previous data showed a reduction in households in fuel poverty between 2010 and 2021.

Question

What assessment has her Department made of trends in the level of fuel poverty since 2018? This is based on previous observations where the share of households in fuel poverty in England reduced every year between 2010 and 2021, with energy efficiency being a key driver.

Answer from Amanda Solloway

The share of households in fuel poverty in England reduced every year between 2010 and 2021, with energy efficiency being the key driver. Although fuel poverty is devolved, we continue to engage with the devolved Administrations, including on specific schemes such as the energy company obligation and the warm home discount.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Anne McLaughlin SNP
Economy Energy
Context

Concerns over the global erosion of human rights and rising fuel poverty in the UK have prompted this question. The MP suggests that declaring access to energy as a human right would ensure people are not cut off from energy due to inability to pay.

Question

Across the world and in the United Kingdom, human rights are being eroded and fuel poverty is on the rise. This Government could address both by declaring access to energy a human right. It would mean that people could not be cut off willy-nilly simply because they could not afford to pay for their energy at that time. Does the Minister agree that energy should be a human right? If not, will she tell me which human beings she believes should not have the right to heat their homes?

Answer from Amanda Solloway

As the hon. Lady indicated, the Government take fuel poverty incredibly seriously. Everybody has the right to heat. We have been helping people with their energy bills, including a £900 cost of living allowance, as well as all the great things that we announced in the autumn statement.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not explicitly agree or disagree on declaring access to energy as a human right but instead reaffirmed the Government's commitment to addressing fuel poverty.

How: As The Hon. Lady Indicated, The Government Take Fuel Poverty Incredibly Seriously.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email