Government attempts to improve the energy efficiency of poor households to a decent standard will not hit target until the year 2130, Labour has claimed.
Ministers have to ensure as many households in fuel poverty – regarded as being unable to afford to be adequately heated due to low incomes and high energy costs – as “reasonably practicable” meet the band C energy efficiency standard by 2030.
But shadow energy minister Clive Lewis warned just 70,000 houses were improved between 2010 and 2013, leaving hundreds of thousands of people still to benefit from changes which will lower their energy bills.
He added if progress continues at this rate the target will be missed by 100 years.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change estimated in July last year that only 5% of England’s 2.3 million houses in fuel poverty reached the band C standard.
It noted that energy bills for homes with this level of energy efficiency are more than £1,000 lower than a band F or G property.
Speaking in the Commons, Labour frontbencher Mr Lewis (Norwich South) told energy minister Andrea Leadsom: “Let’s get to the crux of this – the department’s stated goal is that as many fuel-poor homes as is reasonably practicable will be rated at least band C for energy efficiency by 2030.
“But between 2010 and 2013 this was achieved for only 70,000 fuel-poor households – leaving 95% still to be improved.
“Do you accept that at this rate of progress your department will miss its 2030 target by 100 years?”
Conservative Ms Leadsom replied: “Well, I don’t agree with that.
“I think the key point here is that there are an enormous number of homes which do not reach the band C efficiency level at present, and what we’re absolutely determined to do is to improve that as far as we possibly can.
“That’s why (Energy Secretary Amber Rudd) announced yesterday we’ll be focusing all of our energy efficiency and fuel poverty budget towards the most needy. That’s vital.”
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