Fuel poverty
Wednesday, 09 Apr 2008 09:51
The government is pushing energy efficiency as a priority - but is it doing enough?
The government is being taken to court over claims it has failed its fuel poverty pledges.
Friends of the Earth and Help the Aged are seeking improvements to domestic energy efficiency programmes and efforts to tackle climate change.
They are filing an application for a judicial review with the high court today in an attempt to create new benchmarks for future progress.
Under existing targets fuel poverty for vulnerable households will be eradicated by 2010.
But recent figures suggest the government is likely to fail in this aim, with as many as 1.3 million vulnerable households remaining in fuel poverty in two years' time.
This is close to the number seen at the publication of the 2001 fuel poverty strategy and reflects fears the government will also miss its child poverty eradication target.
The fuel poverty advisory group concluded last month meeting its targets on the issue was "impossible". But it said eradication of fuel poverty in all households by 2016 remained achievable.
politics.co.uk brings you all the key quotes and comment throughout the day.