Dr. Bob Spink MP backs national campaign for affordable warmth for all this winter.

26 November 2008

Dr. Bob Spink helps to raise awareness of how energy efficiency measures can make homes warmer, cheaper and healthier to live in; and what assistance is available from the government.

Dr. Bob Spink, Independent Member of Parliament for Castle Point said, "I am delighted to be able to support the Warm Homes Campaign 2008. This winter is going to be a difficult time for many households in the UK. High energy prices have driven the number of fuel poor in the UK to over 5 million. Improving energy efficiency is a powerful and sustainable way to bring people's energy bills down and make homes healthier to live in. The most important message of this campaign is that there is help out there for vulnerable households. I urge everyone to contact the Warm Front team on 0800 408 2095 to find out if they are eligible for funding."

Bob Spink is one of over 70 MPs, MSP and Welsh Assembly Members across the UK who have pledged their support for the annual Warm Homes Campaign - organised by fuel poverty charities National Energy Action (NEA) and Energy Action Scotland (EAS) - to raise awareness of the problem of fuel poverty and the various grants and schemes that are available to vulnerable households struggling to heat their homes.

The campaign aims to cut the number of excess winter deaths and reduce cold-related illnesses by raising awareness of the help available to people who cannot afford to heat their homes in winter. The Campaign, which runs from 18 November to 1 December, is organised in association with eaga, and supported by the newly formed Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Cold and damp homes affect people's health and wellbeing and are linked to serious cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses. The elderly, young children and people with disabilities are particularly at risk. There were nearly 27,000 Excess Winter Deaths linked to cold homes in 2006-07 in the UK, with 70 of those in Castle Point. With high energy prices forecast to continue now until spring, higher food bills and the credit squeeze, this winter could be a perilous time for vulnerable households.

Jenny Saunders, Chief Executive of NEA, said, "1 in 5 households in the UK will face poor health, isolation, debt and worry due to fuel poverty this winter. In the light of recent punishing energy price rises, this winter promises to be one of the most difficult in a long time for so many households.

"Our message is simple. It doesn't have to be this way and there is funding and advice available to help households make their homes more energy efficient, cheaper and healthier. Making people aware of the support that is available is half the battle."

Norman Kerr, Director, Energy Action Scotland said, "During the Warm Homes Campaign in Scotland we will be highlighting the need to make sure that assistance is getting to the people who need it most, such as those most vulnerable to the effects of cold homes and on a low income.

"In addition, we will be asking both the UK and Scottish governments to plan now for the early introduction into the grant schemes of newer technologies, such as micro-renewables, for the many hard-to-treat homes that are off the mains gas grid or that can’t take cavity or loft insulation because of how they were constructed."

Paul Varley, Divisional Managing Director at eaga, said, "Warm Homes Campaign provides an important opportunity to raise awareness of fuel poverty whilst also making people aware of the help that is out there. For low income households help is at hand through a range of measures. For example, making sure they’re claiming the benefits they're entitled to through Benefit Entitlement Checks, making their homes more energy efficient, and there's lots of cheap and even free ways of doing this, and of course, by maximising grant availability through Government Schemes such as Warm Front."

NEA is a registered charity dedicated to ending fuel poverty. If you would like to support NEA, you can do so at http://www.nea.org.uk/donate/