Fiona O'Donnell
Main Page: Fiona O'Donnell (Labour - East Lothian)
Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/Co-op)
9. Whether he plans to take further steps to reduce the level of fuel poverty in the UK.
Fiona O’Donnell (East Lothian) (Lab)
11. What recent assessment he has made of the likely level of future fuel poverty in the UK.
Mr Davey
We have a whole range of measures. For a start, the warm home discount helps more than 2 million low-income people, including 1 million of the poorest pensioners, by taking £130 off their bill directly. Schemes such as collective switching mean that we are helping people club together to exercise power in the market to get better rates. The simplification of tariffs proposed by Ofgem will mean greater competition and choice for people. We have a whole range of measures. On energy efficiency, the energy company obligation, through the affordable warmth and carbon saving communities schemes, is helping people in fuel poverty.
Fiona O'Donnell
The Secretary of State clearly thinks he is doing a great job on fuel poverty. In which case, why does his own Department’s public attitudes survey show that concern about energy bills has risen from 49% last year to 59% this year? Is not this another example of a Government who are out of touch with ordinary people?