A FLAGSHIP Welsh Government scheme aimed at tackling fuel poverty would take about 125 years to support every low-income household at the current rate, the Senedd has heard.
Mark Isherwood, the Conservatives’ shadow housing secretary, warned that the ‘Warm Homes Nest’ programme has insufficient funding to address the scale of fuel poverty.
Pointing to an urgent need to improve the energy efficiency of fuel-poor households, he told the Senedd that the scheme supports about 1,600 homes a year.
He said: “At the current rate… it will take well over a century to improve the energy efficiency of the homes of all our lower income households currently estimated to be in fuel poverty.
Mr Isherwood, who represents North Wales, urged Welsh ministers to allocate an estimated £170m from UK Government spending on warm homes for the same purpose in Wales.
Photo: Welsh Parliament.
Siân Gwenllian, his Plaid Cymru counterpart, echoed concerns about the pace of change, with more than 200,000 households estimated to be living in fuel poverty.
The Arfon Senedd member warned of a lack of clarity on the policy objective, with the Warm Homes programme “somehow” seeking to balance net zero and fuel poverty.
Ms Gwenllian said: “In some cases, both things could go hand in hand. But it can also lead to conflict when you’re trying to achieve two policy objectives within a single programme.”
She pointed to the example of uncertainty around the boiler repair scheme beyond March.
Photo: Walsh Parliament.
Jenny Rathbone, a Labour backbencher, said: “In the main two postcodes for my constituency, CF23 and 24, 2019 and 2021 were the bumper years for retrofits.
“But we’re talking 105 and 103 in each of these years, which is obviously very welcome for those homes but a drop in the sea compared with the huge need there is in the private sector, which is where all the coldest homes now are.”
In a statement to the Senedd on 14th January, Jayne Bryant set out Welsh Government action aimed at making homes warmer and lowering bills while tackling the climate emergency.
The housing secretary, who was appointed in July, said the Welsh Government has invested more than £30m in the revamped Warm Homes Nest scheme.
Ms Bryant, who is also responsible for councils, said: “We’re tackling fuel poverty through a two-pronged strategy: providing expert advice to Welsh households while delivering physical improvements to our least energy efficient homes, which cost more to heat.
“Our renewed programme, launched in April, is already making a real difference.”
Ms Bryant encouraged anybody worried about their energy bill or heating their home to call the scheme’s freephone number: 0808 808 2244.
By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
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