MP warns about fuel poverty deaths in Hornsey and Wood Green

11.18.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 11th Dec 2007

Lynne Featherstone MP with Oswald Smith

Up to 50 people will die in Hornsey and Wood Green this winter because of fuel poverty says energy charity National Energy Action (NEA). Last Friday, Lynne Featherstone showed her support for a campaign launched by the NEA to inform people about the Warm Fronts Scheme. Ms Featherstone visited the home of Mr Oswald Smith, who has benefited from new central heating and insulation under the scheme.

Ms Featherstone says:

"This is a shocking statistic released by the NEA. It is very worrying that people may die this winter because of fuel poverty. In the 21st century it should be every man's right to have a warm home.

"The Government should do everything in their power to eradicate fuel poverty. Recent figures obtained by the Lib Dems however show that the Winter Fuel Allowance has not increased at the same rate as energy prices and people will suffer as a consequence.

"I would urge anyone eligible for the Warm Front Scheme to come forward and apply.

Notes:

For more information contact Sofia Sivik (0208 340 5459)

NEA is a national charity that tackles the heating and insulation problems of low-income households through improved energy efficiency. Fuel poverty is defined as spending more than 10% of household income on fuel costs.

Warm Front in England is the primary source of grants for energy efficiency improvements for households on low incomes. Households on certain benefits are eligible for the scheme. For more information about Warm Fronts, freephone on: 0800 3166014. The scheme only covers owner-occupiers and private sector tenants.

Excess winter deaths are defined by the Office for National Statistics as the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding autumn (August to November) and the following summer (April to July). http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=574

The Liberal Democrats have released figures showing that the Winter Fuel Allowance now only covers 36% of the average winter fuel bill, compared with almost two thirds in 2003. For more information please see: http://www.libdems.org.uk/news/story.html?id=13306&navPage=news.html