Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Fuel Poverty

Tuesday 21 May 2024 · 3 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Keir Mather asked about the number of households in fuel poverty in winter 2023-24, with the response stating 3.17 million households in fuel poverty in England in 2023.
  • Keir Mather questioned the Secretary of State's awareness of home upgrade schemes' necessity in combating fuel poverty.
  • Vicky Ford highlighted a social housing provider's success in Chelmsford with Government grants and asked for further support to reduce fuel poverty.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Keir Mather Lab Selby
Housing Energy
Context

In winter 2023-24, there was a need to estimate the number of households in fuel poverty.

Question

What estimate she has made of the number of households that were in fuel poverty in winter 2023-24?

Answer from Amanda Solloway

The policy on fuel poverty is devolved. Statistics for England estimate that 3.17 million households were in fuel poverty in 2023, which is more than 1.5 million fewer than in 2010.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q2 Keir Mather Lab Selby
Energy Environment
Context

The questioner is concerned about the slow progress in decarbonising the UK's building stock and the discrepancies between public statements and private admissions.

Question

The best way to cut fuel poverty is through a nationwide home upgrade scheme, but the Secretary of State seems unaware of the reality when it comes to home upgrades. Her officials said in recent documents given to the High Court that progress to decarbonise the UK's building stock has been slow, that policy gaps remain and that the Government are lagging behind. Why will she not admit in public what her Department tells her in private?

Answer from Amanda Solloway

This Government are committed to making sure that we not only get energy efficiency but support people with their energy bills.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked why the Secretary of State does not publicly acknowledge what her department privately recognises regarding home upgrades, but the answer did not address this specific issue.

How: Committed To

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q3 Vicky Ford Con
Housing Energy
Context

A social housing provider in Chelmsford constituency has made significant investments in social housing for energy efficiency. The questioner wants to further discuss how these benefits can be shared.

Question

Thanks to Government grants, a social housing provider in my Chelmsford constituency, CHP, has made some great investments in social housing to help energy efficiency, reduce bills and lower fuel poverty, but it would like to go further. Will the Minister discuss with me the ways in which we can help to share the benefits of those savings so that some of them can be invested in improving energy efficiency and lowering bills in even more homes?

Answer from Amanda Solloway

My right hon. Friend makes the important point that energy efficiency is crucial to lowering bills. That is why we have the social housing decarbonisation fund, which supports local authorities and housing associations in upgrading social housing stock below energy performance certificate level C.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked for a discussion on how benefits can be shared to further improve energy efficiency, but the answer only mentioned an existing fund without addressing the specific ask.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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