Caroline: cold home figures demand action

Press Release
 

CHILDREN’S SOCIETY FIGURES SHOULD ‘SHOCK-START’ GOVERNMENT ACTION ON COLD HOMES

 

Research carried out for a new Children's Society report, Show Some Warmth: Exposing the impact of energy debt on children, suggests that 2,500 children in Brighton Pavilion alone are in families which have fallen behind on energy bills.
 
Caroline – Co-Chair of the All-Party Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency Group and Parliamentary Champion of the Energy Bill Revolution campaign – said: "These figures should shock-start the Government into finally acting on fuel poverty. Families in our own community, and throughout the UK, are having to choose between heating and eating, people are literally dying in this country because they cannot afford to keep warm in their own homes - it should be the scandal of the generation. The UK has some of the least energy efficient homes in Europe - putting that right should be our top infrastructure priority. It warrants urgent action, and it's not enough to freeze or lower bills - because that won't last, or solve the problem: homes must be made energy efficient. And let's be very clear: that is entirely practical and possible. There is no excuse for continued inaction - but not a single penny of the Treasury's planned £100 billion investment in infrastructure over the next Parliament is allocated tackling fuel poverty. Parliament must be held to account on this - and so must energy companies."

 

ENDS


Notes:

 

  •  Caroline's been supporting local work to help families cut fuel costs, save energy and stay warm and well this winter, with free and impartial expert advice sessions across Brighton Pavilion.

 

  • Caroline criticised the recent Autumn Statement, in which none of the Treasury’s planned £100 billion investment in infrastructure over the next Parliament was allocated to measures to tackle fuel poverty. She said there was “no excuse left for the Government’s killer complacency on the cold homes crisis”.

 

  • The Children’s Society says that in Brighton Pavilion alone, there are an estimated 2,500 children living in families who have fallen behind on their energy bills. Its research has shown that nationally around half of these families are not treated with respect or given the support they needed when they fall into debt. You can access its latest report here: Show Some Warmth: Exposing the impact of energy debt on children. You can visit its website here

 

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