Stunell Calls For Action On Fuel Poverty

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 23rd Sep 2002

Andrew Stunell, MP for Hazel Grove, is taking the issue of Stockport's 10,000 families living in fuel poverty to the Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton this week.

Mr Stunell is telling representatives what the government must do to alleviate fuel poverty at a meeting called by energywatch, the body that protects the interests of gas and electricity consumers.

Mr Stunell says, "The low fuel prices we now have is just a temporary solution. Only by improving housing standards and energy efficiency in homes will we provide a long-term answer to this problem."

Mr Stunell advocates a homes insulation programme targeted at the poorest housing stock and seeks greater obligations requiring energy supply companies to promote energy efficiency measures and set up programmes to help their poorest customers.

According to the government's own definition there are over 10,000 families in Stockport who are in fuel poverty. He said, "Many of them are pensioners struggling to make ends meet and are often at risk from cold and damp in homes that urgently need up-grading."