Million more suffer fuel poverty

Million more suffer fuel poverty

The number of households in fuel poverty in the UK rose to 3.5 million in 2006, government figures show.

This is an increase of one million on 2005 levels.

The figure includes around 2.75 million homes classed as "vulnerable" -containing a child, elderly person or someone with a long-term illness.

The figures, released by the Department for Environment and the Department for Business, show the households who spend more than 10% of their income on fuel.

The number of homes in fuel poverty in England rose from 1.5 million in 2005 to 2.4 million in 2006, including an extra 700,000 vulnerable households.

Although the sun is shining through my window, I am feeling the cold and have just been down to put on the heating. Yesterday, it was warm enough not to put the heating on at all. This morning, I was left with £56 out of £110 JSA once NatWest had robbed my bank account to cover its so-called bank charges. I put £30 on my gas card and £10 on my electric key. I think we can safely say that it is above 10% of my income.

I agree when Environment Minister Hilary Benn said "If intervention is on hand to bail out the speculators and spivs who have caused this economic turmoil, then our government should not have to think twice about helping the frail and vulnerable heat their homes". What about it Mr Brown?