Fuel Poverty Leads To 3,000 Deaths - Report

A Government report has found that almost 3,000 people die each year in England and Wales because of fuel poverty.

The news comes as fuel prices come under continuing scrutiny following an Ofgem report on Monday and the revelation that their relative increase since last year prompted a jump in inflation.

The report by Professor John Hills said that if only a tenth of "excess winter deaths" were due to fuel poverty, that meant 2,700 people were dying each year in England and Wales because of it.

Professor Hills has reported that households in or on the margins of poverty faced extra costs to keep warm as those in poorer housing paid more for inefficient heating systems and less insulated homes.

Professor Hills said: "The evidence presented in my interim report shows how serious the problem of fuel poverty is, increasing health risks and hardship for millions of people, and hampering urgent action to reduce energy waste and carbon emissions.

"This review confirms that the way in which the problem is currently described in law is correct: people are affected by fuel poverty if they are ‘living on a lower income in a home which cannot be kept warm at reasonable cost ‘.

The news comes as David Cameron promised the Government will work 'harder and faster' to bring down energy bills.

In a joint article with the Energy Secretary for moneysavingexpert.com, the Prime Minister explained: "We can't control volatile world energy prices. But we can still help people get their bills down. So today we are bringing together the industry, consumer groups and Ofgem for an energy summit that will focus on getting people the help they need to reduce their bills in time for this winter."

David Cameron said he would be working with Ofgem to reform the energy market by encouraging customers to switch suppliers and by ensuring transparency over the cheapest tariffs.

Mr Cameron also said the Government would be giving the most vulnerable households free or heavily subsidised insulation immediately, delivered by the energy companies.

The Government would also begin paying a £120 rebate to more than 600,000 of our most vulnerable pensioners and maintain the winter fuel payment and cold weather payments.

(DW/CD)