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< Offshore wind services firm Seajacks bought by Riverstone | Watchdog says government got good deal when it sold its British Energy stake >
Parliament announces inquiry into fuel poverty and recent initiatives
Parliament has decided to hold a quick-fire inquiry into fuel poverty. The investigation will be carried out by the Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee.
The committee has made the point that despite the Government having targets in England to eradicate fuel poverty amongst vulnerable groups by 2010 and in all households by 2016, the problem is getting worse.
Latest estimates suggest more than 4 million households were in fuel poverty in England in September 2008, compared to 1.2 million in 2004.
The MPs acknowledge that the Government has taken some steps to improve the position. For example it has brought forward legislation to place social tariffs on a statutory footing.
However the committee is anxious to gauge whether those steps are adequate and what more can be done to reduce levels of fuel poverty.
The all-party group of MPs is particularly keen to gather evidence on the following issues:
• The definition of households in fuel poverty commonly used - i.e., those households where more than 10% of income has to be spent on fuel for adequate heating;
• The coherence of the Government's initiatives on energy efficiency;
• The methods used to target assistance at households which need it most;
• Social tariffs and plans to put social price support on a statutory footing;
• Winter fuel payments and cold weather payments; and
• Support for households which are not connected to the mains gas grid.
• Progress against government targets.
Submissions should be sent to the committee by 15 February.
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