DAVID HEATH ANNOUNCES BILL TO END FUEL POVERTY

5.38.00pm GMT Wed 14th Jan 2009

Liberal Democrat MP David Heath (Somerton & Frome) has announced today that he intends to take forward a bill to end fuel poverty. It will aim to help the thousands of people who are struggling with the cost of energy in the current economic crisis. Mr Heath won second place in the annual ballot for private members bills, and therefore his bill has a good chance of becoming law.

The fuel poverty bill has the backing of a wide range of organisations concerned with the elderly, poverty and the environment, including Age Concern, the Association for the Conservation of Energy, the Centre for Sustainable Energy, the Child Poverty Action Group, Consumer Focus, Disability Alliance, Friends of the Earth, Help the Aged and the National Right to Fuel Campaign.

The bill will bring in two measures

*A major energy efficiency programme to 'fuel poverty proof' existing homes by bringing them up to the current energy efficiency levels enjoyed by modern homes

*Social tariffs to limit vulnerable households' exposure to high energy bills

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg hosted a fuel poverty summit with energy companies, charities and consumer groups on Monday which discussed these issues.

David Heath said:

"I don't think anyone over the last few weeks will need persuading of the need for warm homes, and yet far too many people are still vulnerable to the cold simply because they can't afford to heat their homes. It is estimated that five million households face an impossible choice between food and fuel this winter. And it's not just an urban problem; many in rural areas such as Somerset which I represent live in older, damp, un-insulated properties and fuel costs, particularly for those who rely on fuel oil, are even higher.

Whether in terms of social justice, concern about the environment, or a hard-headed calculation of the stimulus such action could give to a struggling construction industry, this is a measure which is urgently needed. It puts back in place a duty everyone thought the government was committed to under the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000, but which was overturned by a decision in the High Court last October. It's a bill that is timely and needs to succeed."