KEETCH CAMPAIGNS AGAINST BLIGHT OF COLD HOMES

12.00.00pm GMT Fri 30th Jan 2004

Paul Keetch, Lib Dem MP for Hereford, is campaigning to try and bring an end to the cold homes scandal faced by millions of tenants.

Around one million homes in England and Wales fail to comply with the Government's own decent homes standard for social sector housing, with nearly a million more deemed as living in 'fuel poverty'.

"The recent 'cold snap' has reminded us all how seriously we can be affected by the cold weather," Mr Keetch said. "This will be most seriously felt by those that live in houses that fail to reach the minimum heating standards and those that live in 'fuel poverty'. This is a problem that claims thousands of lives every year, particularly among the elderly."

Mr Keetch is one of more than 200 MPs who has backed a Parliamentary motion calling for an amendment to the Housing Bill.

The amendment, which it is hoped will help end the estimated 40,000 winter deaths each year caused by cold homes, aims to ensure that all social sector homes have adequate loft and cavity wall insulation, an efficient heating system and a minimum energy efficiency rating.

"It is unacceptable that people continue to live in cold homes," Mr Keetch said. "The decent homes standard set for social housing, which provides homes for some of the poorest in our communities, is far lower than the standards set in the building regulations for more expensive new housing.

"This amendment would help end that inequality, and improve the situation for all those people in Herefordshire, and elsewhere in the country, that suffer in poorly heated housing in these winter months.

"The Government have made some efforts to end fuel poverty and improve the situation, but I am urging them to go that little bit further. Improving things like insulation and heating systems can not only save lives but it can also save money in the long run."