Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Fuel Poverty

Tuesday 5 March 2024 · 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 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government's 2021 fuel poverty strategy acknowledges that warm homes can reduce health inequalities and ease pressure on the NHS
  • Government is delivering a package of cost support worth 3,700 per household on average from 2022 to 2025
  • Local warm homes prescription schemes have offered additional support to help people with health vulnerabilities to stay warm and well

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alan Whitehead Lab
NHS Energy Environment
Context

The issue of fuel poverty's health implications is being discussed, particularly focusing on the need for government action to address this concern.

Question

What recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on tackling the health impacts of fuel poverty. The Government's 2021 fuel poverty strategy recognised that warm homes can help to reduce health inequalities and pressure on the NHS. That is a key reason why we are delivering a package of cost support worth £3,700 per household on average from 2022 to 2025 and investing heavily in fuel efficiency.

Answer from Victoria Atkins

The Government's 2021 fuel poverty strategy recognised that warm homes can help to reduce health inequalities and pressure on the NHS. That is a key reason why we are delivering a package of cost support worth £3,700 per household on average from 2022 to 2025 and investing heavily in fuel efficiency.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific discussions with the Secretary of State regarding health impacts were not addressed.

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Q2 Alan Whitehead Lab
NHS Energy Environment
Context

The recent Institute of Health Equity Marmot report highlighted the negative effects of living in cold homes on respiratory and circulatory diseases, as well as lung and brain development issues for children. A trial was run last year to support vulnerable patients with their energy needs.

Question

I think that the Secretary of State has accepted the link between cold homes and health outcomes. If that is the case, are the Government considering expanding this approach, or looking for alternative ways in which the health system and fuel poverty prevention can go hand in hand? The recent Institute of Health Equity Marmot report highlighted the negative effects of living in cold and uninsulated homes, including respiratory and circulatory diseases and hampered lung and brain development in children. Last year, the Energy Systems Catapult and a number of NHS providers ran a trial of warm homes prescriptions.

Answer from Victoria Atkins

The hon. Gentleman is right to say that a number of local warm homes prescription schemes have offered additional support to help people with health vulnerabilities to stay warm and well. Such schemes are excellent examples of local collaboration between the NHS, local government and other partners—tailored, of course, to the local needs of their areas—and I would be interested to see whether other parts of the NHS choose to take up these sorts of ideas in the future.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked if there were plans for expansion or alternative methods, but no concrete plans or commitments were given.

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