Price hikes make fuel poverty a burning issue

Published on Saturday 19 January 2008 10:10

The fight for more affordable heating continues, says Mark Lazarowicz

THE recent headlines about sharp rises in gas and electricity prices have understandably provoked a lot of public concern.

As temperatures turn colder, we are reminded of the need for good heating and insulation in our homes. The goal of ensuring everyone has affordable heating does, however, become considerably more difficult in the face of sharp increases in the price we pay for our energy.

While everyone is affected by the recent price increases in gas and electricity, it is inevitably those who are most vulnerable and those on low incomes who are hit hardest. The issue of fuel poverty has been on the political agenda for some time. The current Labour Government has taken this concern seriously and ensured the UK was the first country in the world to recognise fuel poverty as an issue and to implement a strategy to address the problem. Indeed, the winter fuel payment was introduced by the Labour Government, as were programmes to provide central heating for pensioners.

Yet despite the best efforts of the UK Government, which have taken more than four million households across the UK out of fuel poverty, the fight for affordable heating continues. High energy costs, energy-inefficient buildings, low incomes and lack of benefit take-up are all factors in the persistence of fuel poverty and it is clear that we have some way to go before these causes are fully addressed.

Last year, I jointly co-ordinated a report on tackling fuel poverty and, last week, I secured a debate in the House of Commons to highlight our report's recommendations. As well as calling for more effective regulation of the energy industry, which has been reaping such large profits from the sharp price increases we have seen, I also highlighted the need for energy efficiency.

Energy efficiency schemes need to be operated in a more integrated manner so that energy efficiency advice is available locally. A major effort is also needed to improve the take-up of fuel poverty schemes among private landlords so that tenants benefit from the energy efficiency and conservation measures being developed in the social housing sector.

Other measures are required, too, but while more needs to be done to assist those struggling to heat their homes affordably, a big push from Government, regulators and energy companies is needed so that people know about the help available to them. By tackling all these factors we can hope to bring about a society where everyone is able to live in a warm and comfortable home. And when prices and profits soar as they have done recently, it is right for the energy companies to be asked to help pay for the action that is necessary to tackle fuel poverty.

Mark Lazarowicz is the Labour MP for Edinburgh North and Leith and the chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on debt and personal finance.