Government "not close at all" in stopping fuel poverty, admits minister
Government "not close" to fuel poverty eradication goal
Wednesday, 24, Jun 2009 11:46
The government is reviewing its fuel poverty policies as the UK looks set to miss the 2016 goal of eradicating the problem.
David Kidney, junior secretary for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, told a work and pensions committee the government takes its aim of eradicating fuel poverty in vulnerable groups by 2010 and for everybody by 2016 "very seriously".
But he added: "We're not very close at all. We're going the wrong direction at this moment, having been blown off course by the energy price rises between 2004 and 2008.
"As a result of that, we are having to look again at all the policies we have to see if we can make them more efficient and see if we should make any new ones."
The review will be published by the end of the summer, Mr Kidney added.
The environment and rural affairs select committee has suggested extra money to help those most in need could be found if the winter fuel payment was stopped for those on the higher-rate tax band.
According to the committee, the measure would save £250 million a year, which could be used to improve energy efficiency in homes, lowering fuel bills.
Fuel poverty is defined as using more than ten per cent of a household's income to pay energy bills.