To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to paragraph 4.34 of Budget 2008, on helping vulnerable households heat their homes, whether the Government intend to bring forward proposals to introduce minimum standards for social tariffs. (209569)

The Government have secured individual voluntary agreements with the six largest energy suppliers to increase their collective spend on social programmes to at least £150 million a year by 2010-11. This voluntary approach provides for a wide range of help to vulnerable households, including social tariffs, energy efficiency measures and bill rebates.

Ofgem is leading the process to determine the parameters for what can be included under this additional spend and is currently consulting on a draft framework, including qualifying criteria for social tariffs. The Government therefore have no plans at present to bring forward further proposals on social tariffs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent representations he has received on fuel poverty; what steps he is taking in response; and what consideration he has given to increasing assistance for super-insulation of homes. (210297)

[holding answer 11 June 2008]: I receive a number of representations on fuel poverty from Members of Parliament, members of the public, and a range of stakeholder organisations with an interest in fuel poverty.

Since 2000 the Government have spent around £20 billion on fuel poverty programmes and benefits. Most recently my Department has secured the individual agreement of the six major energy suppliers to increase their collective spend on social programmes for low income households from £50 million to £150 million year by 2010-11.

The Government also announced a one-off additional payment to the winter fuel payment for this coming winter of £50 for the over 60s and £100 for the over 80s. And the recent Ofgem-led Fuel Poverty summit resulted in a package of measures that will help vulnerable households access the best available tariffs. Our research has shown that switching suppliers and payment method can bring savings of up to £200.

The Government's Warm Front programme provides a range of insulation measures and energy efficiency advice to households in receipt of certain benefits. Between 2000-08 the Government will have committed £1.6 billion to Warm Front providing support to 1.7 million households.

The carbon emissions reduction target places an obligation on energy suppliers to deliver energy efficiency measures to householders, including insulation. Under this scheme it is expected that £1.5 billion will be directed to low income and elderly consumers over the three years of the programme.

Progress is also being made in improving the insulation of social housing under the Decent Homes standard. The Decent Homes standard is a minimum standard below which homes should not fall in England, and includes thermal comfort. The Government expect 95 per cent. of social homes to meet the Decent Homes standard by 2010.

We have no plans at present to extend the range of energy efficiency programmes.