Age UK comment on new fuel poverty strategy

Age UK comment on new fuel poverty strategy

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said:

'While we welcome the principle of using a banding system to measure fuel poverty, it is disappointing that the strategy itself is unambitious and the targets are inadequate for tackling the fuel poverty crisis.

'We are worried about the plight of nearly a million pensioners who cannot afford to heat their homes. Cold homes are a huge factor when it comes to the shocking numbers of excess winter deaths each year. 
 
'The only viable long term solution for fuel poverty is to make peoples' homes as energy efficient as quickly as possible. What we need is a more determined energy efficiency programme that brings all housing up to standard as soon as possible.'

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You can read the announcement here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cutting-the-cost-of-keeping-warm-to-tackle-fuel-poverty

Media contact: Liz Fairweather
Tel: 0203 033 1718
Out of hours: 07071 243 243

Notes to editors

Age UK

We work with our national partners, Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI and our local Age UK partners in England (together the Age UK Family). We also work internationally for people in later life as a member of the DEC and with our sister charity Help Age International.

Age UK believes that everyone should have the opportunity to make the most of later life, whatever their circumstances.  We provide free information, advice and support to over six million people; commercial products and services to over one million customers; and research and campaign on the issues that matter to people in later life. Our work focuses on five key areas: money matters, health and well being, home and care, work and training and leisure and lifestyle.

Age UK is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England (registered charity number 1128267 and company number 6825798). Age Concern England and Help the Aged (both registered charities), and their trading and other associated companies merged on the 1st April 2009. Together they have formed the Age UK Group ("we").  Charitable services are offered through Age UK and commercial products are offered by the Charity's trading companies, which donate their net profits to Age UK (the Charity).