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Macmillan Cancer Support responds to the Government’s announcement on the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation[1], which sets out an almost 50% cut in funding on energy efficiency in the poorest homes[2].
Siobhan McClelland, Head of Evidence at Macmillan Cancer Support, said:
“We are bitterly disappointed that the Government has decided to cut this funding which has provided a lifeline to many vulnerable households by helping them to better insulate their homes and install central heating. “We know that people with cancer who are terminally ill or having treatment already struggle to pay their energy bills and many are in fuel poverty[3]. Taking away vital support which allows them to make their homes more energy efficient and reduce their fuel bills is a real mistake. “Macmillan appreciates the need to make cost savings in this difficult economic climate; however the poorest and most vulnerable groups should not be expected to bear the brunt. It is crucial that the Government acts upon the recent Independent Fuel Poverty Review’s recommendations. Cancer patients should not be forced to choose between a warm home and other essentials such as food.”
“We are bitterly disappointed that the Government has decided to cut this funding which has provided a lifeline to many vulnerable households by helping them to better insulate their homes and install central heating.
“We know that people with cancer who are terminally ill or having treatment already struggle to pay their energy bills and many are in fuel poverty[3]. Taking away vital support which allows them to make their homes more energy efficient and reduce their fuel bills is a real mistake.
“Macmillan appreciates the need to make cost savings in this difficult economic climate; however the poorest and most vulnerable groups should not be expected to bear the brunt. It is crucial that the Government acts upon the recent Independent Fuel Poverty Review’s recommendations. Cancer patients should not be forced to choose between a warm home and other essentials such as food.”
Claire Keuls, Media & PR Officer 020 7840 4872 (out of hours 07801 307 068) ckeuls@macmillan.org.uk|
[1] Department of Energy & Climate Change (2012), The Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation: Government Response to the November 2011 Consultation
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/green-deal/5521-the-green-deal-and-energy-company-obligation-cons.pdf|
[2] According to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency
[3] A household is said to be in fuel poverty if it needs to spend more than 10% of its income on fuel to maintain a satisfactory heating regime. A vulnerable household is one that contains the elderly, children or someone who is disabled or has a long term illness. According to the latest Government statistics the number of vulnerable households in the UK who are living in fuel poverty has gone up by 2 million in the last ten years.
Department of Energy & Climate Change Fuel Poverty Statistics, Annual Report on Fuel Poverty Statistics 2012, http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/stats/fuel-poverty/5270-annual-report-fuel-poverty-stats-2012.pdf|
In 2011 Macmillan gave £2,680,222 to 13,691 people to help with their fuel bills.
Macmillan Cancer Support works closely with npower and together have developed the Fuel Management Programme to lift people affected by cancer out of fuel poverty. Together we provide assistance with bills and arrears as well as energy efficiency advice. Over 900 npower customers received help from the programme. If you are an npower customer and spending more than 10% of your income on fuel or for information about how Macmillan can help you visit Macmillan.org.uk/heatingcosts|.
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