Fuel Poverty and Home Insulation

The national emergency of rising energy bills has again highlighted the urgent importance of insulating as many homes as possible.

The UK spends more money on energy wasted through the walls and roofs of our houses than any other country in Western Europe. Upgrading the energy efficiency of homes would reduce energy demand, cutting bills for families and building the UK’s energy security.

Unfortunately, I am concerned that we have seen a decade of failure to introduce a proper national energy efficiency plan. Indeed, after cuts to energy efficiency programmes in 2013, insulation rates fell by 92%. I therefore support calls for a national Warm Homes Plan to upgrade five million energy inefficient homes over the next parliament, installing energy saving measures such as loft insulation, going street by street in locally delivered programmes, investing an additional £6.6 Billion to double the Government’s already committed £6.6 Billion.

It would involve giving devolved Governments and local authorities the power and the resources necessary to deliver retrofitting programmes to bring homes in their area up to standard, with particular urgency for those in fuel poverty.

This will create thousands of jobs in every part of the country, cut household bills by up to £1,000 every year for families, reduce gas imports, provide opportunities for British businesses of all sizes, and create hundreds of thousands of good jobs for builders, electricians, plumbers, carpenters and architects.

I can assure you that I will continue to support efforts to press the Government for the rapid nationwide programme of home insulation we need.