Burnham: Two thirds of new cash won't help fuel poor

11.00.00am GMT Mon 22nd Dec 2008

Commenting on the Labour-Plaid government's announcement of cash "to tackle fuel poverty" Welsh Liberal Democrat shadow minister for Social Justice Eleanor Burnham has warned that less than one pound in every three will help the fuel poor.

Ms Burnham said: "I fully support any action to genuinely help those in fuel poverty, but the Minister's actions today will make very little difference.

"We know that less than £1 in every £3 spent by the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme actually goes to those in fuel poverty. Until the scheme is re-focused on those in the greatest need, it will continue to be an inefficient way of tackling fuel poverty.

"The government is not being helped by delays in producing the statistics it needs. Fuel Poverty statistics at a local level were due to be published in June 2007, year, here we are 18 months later and there is still no sign of them.

"The Government should be ashamed that these statistics are so long delayed that two more winters will have passed before we have them. How can they say they are tackling fuel poverty, when at present they do not really know where the problem areas are?"

Notes:

The government's "Living in Wales" report noted that 29% of those who benefited from the HEES were actually classed as living in fuel poverty - which id defined as when 10% or more of income is used to heat homes.

The BBC reports that:

The assembly government has announced an extra £5.8m over two years to help fight fuel poverty in Wales.

The new money will go towards heating and insulation measures for vulnerable people in their homes.

Environment Minister Jane Davidson said it would take funding for the home energy efficiency scheme (HEES) to £23m for 2008-2009.