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Government to miss Fuel poverty Targets, say MPs

The Government is going to miss its target to end fuel poverty amongst vulnerable households in England in 2010, according to the Energy and Climate Change Committee, which recently launched its report on Fuel Poverty

The target to end fuel poverty for all households in England by 2016 also looks difficult to hit, despite the efforts made by the Government.

The Committee's report is a stocktake of performance in tackling fuel poverty and sets out areas of concern which the Committee want to see addressed in the new Parliament.  Paddy Tipping MP, Acting Chair of the Committee, said:

"One of the reasons tackling fuel poverty is so difficult, is that the Government does not have a clear idea about who the fuel poor are.   Because it does not have that information, it has to use age and receipt of benefits as proxies for fuel poverty, and that means that some people who are fuel poor do not get help, while others who are not in fuel poverty receive assistance.  The Government has got to get better information; share that information more intelligently; and focus its help towards those who really need it".



Amongst its recommendations, the Committee calls for:
• A 'road map' to be drawn up, setting out how fuel poverty is to be tackled in greater detail
 
• The Government to consider whether a database of domestic energy efficiency should be set up
 
• Sharpening the focus of the Warm Front scheme so that it helps those most in need
 
• The Government to act speedily to bring forward plans for more data-sharing, so that fuel poverty can be tackled more effectively
 
• The Government to look to see how people with cancer and other serious medical conditions could benefit from social price support
 
• An urgent review of the market for fuels bought by people who are not connected to the mains gas grid
 
 
 
 
 
FURTHER INFORMATION:
1.     Committee Membership is as follows:
Mr Elliot Morley MP, Labour, Scunthorpe (Chair)
Mr David Anderson MP, Labour, Blaydon
Colin Challen MP, Labour, Morley and Rothwell
Nadine Dorries MP, Conservative, Mid Bedfordshire
Charles Hendry MP, Conservative, Wealden
Miss Julie Kirkbride MP, Conservative, Bromsgrove
Anne Main MP, Conservative, St. Albans
Judy Mallaber MP, Labour, Amber Valley
John Robertson MP, Labour, Glasgow North West
Sir Robert Smith MP, Liberal Democrats, West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Paddy Tipping MP, Labour, Sherwood
Dr Desmond Turner MP, Labour, Brighton Kemptown
Mr Mike Weir MP, Scottish National Party, Angus
Dr Alan Whitehead MP, Labour, Southampton Test
 
2.       More information can be found on the Committee website at: http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/ecc.cfm
 
 
Media Enquiries: Hannah Pearce, Tel: 020 7219 8430, e-mail: pearcehm@parliament.uk

Specific Committee Information:  e-mail: ecc@parliament.uk, Tel: 020 7219 2569

Watch committees and parliamentary debates online:  www.parliamentlive.tv 

Publications / Reports / Reference Material: Copies of all select committee reports are available from the Parliamentary Bookshop (12 Bridge St, Westminster, 020 7219 3890) or the Stationery Office (0845 7023474).  Committee reports, press releases, evidence transcripts, Bills; research papers, a directory of MPs, plus Hansard (from 8am daily) and much more, can be found on www.parliament.uk

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