To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2010, Official Report, column 401W, on fuel poverty, when the definition of fuel poverty was last reviewed. (315191)

The Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 defines a fuel poor person as one living on a lower income in a home which cannot be kept warm at reasonable cost.

The most widely accepted definition of a fuel poor household is one which needs to spend more than 10 per cent. of its net income to heat its home to an adequate standard of warmth (usually 21 degrees for the main living area, and 18 degrees for other occupied rooms).

There has been no review of this definition.