Margaret Hodge MP shows Barking how to beat the chill in warm homes week

Margaret Hodge, MP for Barking is supporting the energy efficiency message of NEA/British Gas Warm Homes Week with a visit to Mrs Elsie Cockram in Woodward Road, Dagenham. Her home has been made warmer and cheaper to heat, thanks to measures carried out under a Government-supported scheme that tackles fuel poverty through improved energy efficiency.

Warm Homes Week (23 November to 3 December 2001), now in its tenth year, is organised by national energy charity NEA and supported by British Gas. Under the scheme, Mrs Cockram, who is 80 years old, has benefited from cavity wall insulation as well as receiving energy advice and two low energy lightbulbs. These improvements were carried out under a Warm Front grant administered by the scheme's managing agent Eaga Partnership Ltd.

Mrs Hodge said:

“I welcome this opportunity to show my support for Warm Homes Week and its vital message of energy efficiency. And for those members of my constituency who are struggling to heat their homes, I encourage them to investigate the energy-saving programmes and schemes that can help them have a warmer, healthier winter.”

“More than 6 million households in the UK cannot afford to heat their homes adequately; groups such as the elderly, families with young children, and people with disabilities suffer proportionately from fuel poverty. Between 30,000 and 60,000 people die of cold-related illnesses each year; last year, there were 110 such deaths in Barking.”

“The Government will publish its strategy to end fuel poverty in the UK by 2016 and MPs will debate the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Bill, new legislation to increase energy efficiency improvements.”

NOTES

• Energy efficiency improvements in the client's home have been carried out under the Government-backed grant programme Warm Front. Grant eligibility is based on income, disability and age of householders; for more information, contact 0800 952 0600.
• To date, 276 MPs have been involved in Warm Homes Week visits over the past 10 years.
• NEA is the national energy action charity that tackles the heating and insulation problems of low-income households through improved energy efficiency. Now celebrating 20 years of campaigning for warm homes, NEA takes practical action to tackle the heating and insulation problems of elderly and disabled people, single parents, and other low-income households through improved energy efficiency. NEA works in partnership with central and local government, fuel utilities, housing providers, consumer groups and voluntary organisations for increased investment in energy efficiency measures for poor and vulnerable households.
• Warm Homes Week 2001 is supported by British Gas.