Reporting on fuel poverty
I19Preparation of periodic reports
1
The Scottish Ministers must, for each reporting period, prepare a report setting out—
a
the steps that have been taken during the reporting period for the purpose of meeting the fuel poverty targets (including the costs of those steps),
b
the steps that have been taken in the reporting period to address the four drivers of fuel poverty for the purpose of meeting the fuel poverty targets,
c
the progress made in the reporting period towards meeting the fuel poverty targets (including what progress has been made in removing low levels of energy efficiency as a driver of fuel poverty),
d
the steps that the Scottish Ministers propose to take in the next reporting period in order to meet the fuel poverty targets (including any additional funding required to take those steps), and
e
the steps that the Scottish Ministers propose to take in the next reporting period to address the four drivers of fuel poverty for the purpose of meeting the fuel poverty targets.
2
A report under subsection (1) must also set out, with respect to meeting the 2040 target in relation to each local authority area in Scotland—
a
the steps that have been taken during the reporting period for the purpose of meeting that target,
b
the progress made in that period towards meeting that target, and
c
the steps that the Scottish Ministers propose to take or consider should be taken in the next reporting period in order to meet that target.
3
A report under subsection (1) may include such other information as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.
4
Subsection (1) does not apply to a reporting period that ends on or after 31 December 2040.
5
The reporting periods are—
a
the period of 3 years beginning with the day on which the first fuel poverty strategy is published under section 8,
b
each subsequent period of 3 years.
6
For the purposes of subsections (1)(d) and (2)(c), where the next reporting period would include any period after 31 December 2040—
a
those paragraphs are to be read as a requirement to set out the steps that the Scottish Ministers propose to take or consider should be taken in the next reporting period in relation to fuel poverty, and
b
it is immaterial for the purposes of calculating the next reporting period that a report will not require to be prepared at the end of that reporting period by virtue of subsection (4).
7
For the purpose of subsection (1), “four drivers of fuel poverty” has the same meaning as in section 14(10).