Edward Davey MP Backs National Campaign For Warm Homes

06.12.05

Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton, has tabled a Parliamentary motion backing a national campaign that aims to highlight the plight of households who are unable to afford to heat their homes to adequate levels this winter.

The Warm Homes Campaign is the annual winter campaign organised by energy efficiency charity National Energy Action (NEA). The campaign aims to cut the number of excess winter deaths and reduce cold-related illnesses by raising awareness of the help available to people who cannot afford to heat their homes in winter.

Edward Davey said: “The inability to afford adequate heating has serious consequences for individual households and society as a whole. We need to tackle low incomes and the poor energy efficiency standards in our housing so that no one has to worry about the cost of heating their home. I believe that in this day and age, no one should have to spend the winter in a cold, damp home simply because they can’t afford to put the heating on. That is why I am supporting the Warm Homes Campaign and an end to fuel poverty for all my constituents.”

Eight per cent of households in Kingston and Surbiton are unable to afford to heat their homes. Cold homes affect people’s health and wellbeing and are linked to cardiovascular illnesses such as heart disease and strokes, and respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis. The elderly, families with young children, people with disabilities and others on low incomes are especially at risk from the dangers of cold homes.

There are an average 74 excess winter deaths linked to cold homes every year in Kingston and Surbiton. This year, higher fuel prices and the coldest winter for eight years could push the figure much higher.