[holding answer 17 March 2008]: Splits of the level of fuel poverty by the household composition of the primary benefit unit or age of the youngest/oldest member of the household are not available at a sub-national level. The detailed tables which accompany the “Fuel Poverty Strategy Report” hold information on household composition of the primary benefit unit and age of the youngest/oldest member of the household on national level only. These data are published annually with the earliest figures covering 2003, the latest figures cover 2005. They are available online through http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/fuel-poverty/index.html. The following table holds extracted details:
Thousand 2003 2004 2005 Household Composition (of primary benefit unit) — — — Couple with dependent child(ren) 53 54 83 Lone parent with dependent child(ren) 98 91 116
Regional estimates of fuel poverty are available only for England in 2003 and are taken from the Fuel Poverty Indicator (FPI) dataset available online at http://www.fuelpovertyindicator.org.uk/. This estimates that there were 2,400 fuel poor households in Ribble Valley and 39,300 in Lancashire.
National fuel poverty rates are published annually and are again available online through the BERR website at http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/fuel-poverty/index.html.
The report shows the following table outlining national level of fuel poverty since 1996:
1996 19981 2001 20021 2003 2004 2005 England 5.1 (5.5) 3.4 (4.0) 1.7 (2.3) 1.4 (2.0) 1.2 (1.5) 1.2 (1.5) 1.5 (1.8) Scotland 0.7 — — 0.3 0.4 0.4 — Wales — 0.4 — — — 0.1 — Northern Ireland — — 0.2 — — 0.2 — UK estimate (approx.) 6½ 4¾ 2½ 2¼ 2 2 2½ (7½) (5¾) (3½) (2¾) (2½) (2½) (3) 1 Figures for England in 1998 and 2002 are estimates based on movements in energy prices, incomes and energy efficiency. Figures in brackets do not include housing benefit/ISMI as part of income.