Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of fuel poverty on residential air quality and associated illnesses.

The Department has assessed the impact of energy efficiency measures on the ventilation and indoor temperature of homes as well as the impact of these measures on residents’ health. The headline findings of our work, as well as the methodology used, can be found in Section 6 of the document: “Fuel Poverty: a Framework for Future Action - Analytical Annex”:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211137/fuel_poverty_strategic_framework_analytical_annex.pdf

In 2014, we used the same approach to estimate the health impact of the extension to 2017 of the Energy Company Obligation – the flagship energy efficiency policy for the fuel poor. This analysis, which estimated policy changes will generate £225m worth of health benefits – can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/373650/ECO_IA_with_SoS_e-sigf_v2.pdf

DECC has made no further assessment of the impact of fuel poverty on residential air quality and associated illnesses.