Government record on fuel poverty criticised (Leeds Liberal Democrats)

Leeds Liberal Democrats <info@leedslibdems.org.uk>

Government record on fuel poverty criticised

June 16, 2009 12:00 AM

A senior Leeds councillor has strongly criticised the government's failure to fulfil its pledge to eradicate fuel poverty.

A report from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee strongly criticises the government for presiding over an increase in fuel poverty since 2005, despite its policy to eradicate the problem.

According to the committee, the resources the government has devoted to the issue are "inadequate and getting worse".*

The report, titled Energy Efficiency and Fuel Poverty, particularly criticises cuts to the budget in the Warm Front scheme. This provides funding for insulation and other energy efficiency measures to UK households and has previously been described by the government as its "main tool for eradicating fuel poverty".** Funding for the programme is to be cut by 40% in 2010 from its current level of £350 million.

A household is deemed to be in fuel poverty if more than 10% of its income is spent on fuel for heating and lighting.

Cllr James Monaghan (Lib Dem, Headingley) Executive Member responsible for the council's fuel savers team said:

"The government has quite clearly failed on the issue of fuel poverty. They promised to eradicate it, but instead it is increasing.

"We are in the middle of what promises to be the deepest and most prolonged recession for decades, during which millions will struggle to heat their homes. Yet the government has slashed funding for energy efficiency and insulation by 40%. This is madness.

"The government urgently needs to rethink its policy on this issue if they are not to condemn millions more to the misery of fuel poverty."