To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which schemes sponsored by the Government have as an objective the reduction of fuel poverty; which such schemes are planned; and how much has been spent on each scheme in the latest period for which figures are available. (285901)

Warm Front is the main Government funded scheme for tackling fuel poverty in England. Over 1.9 million households have received assistance with heating, insulation and other energy efficient measures since the scheme's inception in June 2000.

Funding for the scheme has been increased to more than £950 million in the current spending round. In the previous spending round period, 2005-08, Warm Front total spend was £862 million.

The Government are currently undertaking a wide-ranging review of our fuel poverty policies. The review is examining whether existing measures to tackle fuel poverty could be made more effective and whether new policies should be introduced to help us make further progress towards our goals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what initiatives to tackle fuel poverty are being provided by private companies under his Department's direction; how much has been spent on each in the latest period for which figures are available; and whether any other such schemes are planned. (285902)

Warm Front is the main Government scheme for tackling fuel poverty in the private sector in England and is managed by eaga plc. Over 1.9 million households have received assistance with heating, insulation and other energy efficient measures since the scheme’s inception in June 2000. Funding for the scheme has been increased to more than £950 million in the current spending round. The scheme is managed for the Government by eaga plc.

The carbon emissions reduction target (CERT) is an obligation placed on energy supply companies that have more than 50,000 customers to achieve CO₂ savings in the homes of domestic consumers—40 per cent. of which must be met by installing measures in the homes of a priority group of low-income consumers in receipt of qualifying benefits or are aged 70 and over.

Energy suppliers do not disclose the amount of money that they spend on promoting CERT measures, as they regard this as being commercial-in-confidence. However, we understand that under the previous two phases of the energy efficiency commitment (EEC), which ran from April 2002 to March 2008, suppliers invested £1.325 billion promoting measures. The Government’s estimate of likely spend for the current CERT is £3.2 billion. With 60 per cent. of this investment expected to be directed at the Priority Group, the total investment over nine years would total £2.7 billion.

DECC has provided funding of £3 million between 2008-09 to 2010-11 under the Low Carbon Buildings programme—together with revenue funding from partners—to deliver pilot microgeneration projects for deprived communities in the north-east, Yorkshire and Humberside, East of England and, possibly, Wales.

The new Community Energy Saving programme (CESP) will see the main energy companies deliver energy efficiency measures worth around £350 million to homes in low income areas around the country. The scheme will deliver both carbon savings and fuel bill savings to assisted households, and subject to parliamentary approval is expected to come into force in September this year.

The Government are currently undertaking a wide-ranging review of our fuel poverty policies. The review is examining whether existing measures to tackle fuel poverty could be made more effective and whether new policies should be introduced to help us make further progress towards our goals.