Number of older people living in fuel poverty is a national disgrace says MEP

4.15.00pm GMT Tue 11th Nov 2008

Local MEP Liz Lynne has said that a study showing that more than a third of older people will resort to living in only one room of their house, so as to save money on their fuel bills, gives an insight into the harsh realities faced by older members of society this winter.

The study, carried out by British Gas in association with Help the Aged, found that 4.5 million people planned to retreat to only one room this year compared to 2.5 million last year. It also found that one in four older people have decided to stay in bed longer so as to try and stay warm.

The study puts the new figures down to rising fuel costs but called on the Government to do more to help older people struggling to pay their fuel bills.

The Government had set itself targets to eradicate fuel poverty by 2010 but in April it admitted it would not achieve its goal. In 2005 it was estimated that the UK has the highest number of avoidable deaths due to fuel poverty in Western Europe.

Speaking today, Liz Lynne, who is Co- Chair of the European Parliament's All Party Intergroup on Ageing, said that the figures showed that older people were being left high and dry this winter:

"It is outrageous that in a supposedly developed country we still have a huge number of our older people suffering from fuel poverty. There is no excuse for older people to be forced to barricade themselves in a single room simply so they can keep warm.

"The Government must do more. It is not enough to set targets and then simply let the fall by the wayside, they need to ensure that they meet their target. These are not simply numbers and statistics; these are real people being forced to live in conditions that no one should ever be subjected to, no matter what their age."

ENDS