The United Kingdom

1.1 The aim of the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations remains the eradication of fuel poverty, as detailed in the ‘UK Fuel Poverty Strategy² published in November 2001; a commitment reaffirmed through measures set out in the 2003 and 2007 Energy White Papers. Separate targets exist in England and each of the Devolved Administrations, with the overall aim being that by 2018 no household in the UK should live in fuel poverty.

England

1.2 The aim in England, restated in ‘Fuel Poverty in England: The Government’s Plan for Action’³ is that the

Government, as far as reasonably practicable, will seek an end to fuel poverty in vulnerable households by 2010, with a vulnerable household deemed to be one containing children, or those who are elderly, sick or disabled. Fuel poverty in other households will also be tackled as progress is made on these groups, with a target that by 22 November 2016, as far as is reasonably practicable, no person in England should have to live in fuel poverty

Scotland

1.3 The Scottish Government has a target to eliminate fuel poverty as far as is reasonably practicable by November 2016. This was set out in the Scottish Fuel Poverty Statement published in 2002 to meet the requirements of section 88(1) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.⁴

Wales

1.4 As set out in the ‘Fuel Poverty Commitment for Wales’ the Welsh Assembly Government’s target is that as far as reasonably practicable,

no vulnerable household in Wales should be living in fuel poverty by 2010 and no household should be living in fuel poverty by 2018.⁵

Northern Ireland

1.5 ‘Ending Fuel Poverty: A Strategy for Northern Ireland’⁶ sets out the aim, subject to necessary resources, to eliminate fuel poverty in vulnerable households by 2010, and in non-vulnerable households by 2016.