The Government’s Fourth Annual Progress Report, published in June 2006, shows the latest available figures. This report indicated that, in 2004, around 2 million households were in fuel poverty in the UK with 1.5 million being classified as vulnerable, compared with around 6.5 and 5 million respectively in 1996. The report is available on the Defra website at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/energy/fuelpov/index.htm
We are aware of the challenges presented by rising energy prices and the fact that the impact of price rises over the last two years on the number of households in fuel poverty has yet to be reflected in the official statistics. The Government remain committed to work in this area to deliver our targets to eradicate fuel poverty.