Current status: Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 18 October 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how many lone parent households are estimated to be living in fuel poverty as a result of gas and electricity price rises since 2003, in light of Communities Scotland’s estimate that 30,000 households go into fuel poverty for every 5% increase in energy prices.
The Scottish House ConditionSurvey (SCHS) estimates that, in 2002, there were around 9,000 lone parent householdsin fuel poverty. This is the most recent figure available for this group. More upto date estimates will be sought from the SHCS 2004-05 data which is due to be publishedearly 2007.