Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many fuel-poor households there are for which her Department plans to fund insulation measures over the next five years.

The Government is fully committed to tackling fuel poverty in England, including meeting the 2030 target now enshrined in law.

Decisions on future energy bill and energy efficiency support for consumers have not yet been taken. The Government will be guided by the fuel poverty strategy published in March 2015, which sets out a clear policy of working towards improving energy efficiency standards across the English housing stock, including in the homes of the fuel poor.

In the meantime, the Energy Company Obligation, currently in place to March 2017, will support insulation and heating measures in fuel poor homes. The Impact Assessment is available here:

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

This year, we are also delivering a £25m central heating fund focused on increased support for those in fuel poverty off the mains gas grid.