MPs launch energy efficiency scheme to tackle fuel poverty

Spearheading the move, Liberal Democrat David Heath (Somerton and Frome) said: "Support for this Bill is a no-brainer."

Opening second reading debate on his Fuel Poverty Bill, Mr Heath said it had the backing of organisations ranging from Help the Aged to Friends of the Earth.

"This Bill is good for those living in poverty, good for the health of the nation, very good for the environment and - at a time when it is desperately needed - it's good for the economy."

The Bill, which is co-sponsored by Labour and Tory backbenchers, would bring about a major energy efficiency programme and force energy suppliers to provide cut price tariffs for less well off households.

Labour's Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley) said the "villains" were the energy companies "with their immoral profits and excessive salaries for chief executives" and this was why the Bill was so important.

Mr Heath said he didn't want to "alienate" the energy companies as he needed their assistance to make the legislation work and they had so far been helpful.

But he acknowledged there was a "real issue about the way bills have gone up and haven't come down at the same rate".

The Bill, he said, could provide a "huge stimulus" for the energy efficiency business just when it was needed during the economic downturn.

The Bill requires the Government to produce a strategy to eliminate fuel poverty by 2016 but allows the Secretary of State to decide on what measures are used.

Mr Heath said it was a "disgrace" that up to five million households were in fuel poverty in the UK.

He said: "It cannot be right that one in three older people live in one room over winter in order to keep warm.

"It cannot be right that one quarter of older people stay in bed in order to keep warm.

"It cannot be right that one in 10 older people cut back on essentials such as food or clothes in order to pay the fuel bill because they cannot do both.

"That to me is a national disgrace and it is one which we need to address."

Every year there were thousands of "excess winter
deaths" as a result of the cold, he said.

"It doesn't happen elsewhere. It doesn't happen in much colder countries than we are, it doesn't happen in Norway or Sweden or the other Scandinavian countries.

"They have severe winters but they keep their citizens warm in their homes.

"We fail and that is something that we as a House are responsible for."

He acknowledged the Government was already taking action to tackle fuel poverty but his Bill was a "belt and braces approach".

Junior energy minister Joan Ruddock said: "It is indeed the policy of the Government and will continue to be so."

But she criticised the "absolutist" nature of the Bill, saying current legislation stated action should be taken "as far as is reasonably practicable".