Current fuel poverty measures "inadequate"

13/07/2009

The government's current plans to tackle the problem of fuel poverty are "simply inadequate", according to the chairman of the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group.

Derek Lickorish was speaking after the release of a report from the group, which advises the government on energy issues.

The study suggested that four million English households are currently in fuel poverty, with levels now three times the rate seen five years ago.

A household is considered to be in fuel poverty if it spends more than ten per cent of its income on energy.

"Energy prices are going to become even more of an issue as the cost of tackling carbon emissions grows, unemployment rises and the energy market remains volatile," said Mr Lickorish.

"The measures in place to deal with fuel poverty now are simply inadequate to tackle the rise in fuel poverty that this cocktail of issues could create."

Mr Lickorish called on the government to create a "thorough" strategy that will take "decisive action" on areas such as energy efficiency and social tariffs.

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