- Caroline Lucas demands government prioritise the protection of pensioners.

Caroline Lucas, Green Party candidate for Brighton Pavilion, today called for more Government action to tackle fuel poverty and highlighted "worrying" figures that show how 9% of East Sussex's population suffer fuel poverty.

Recent fuel poverty data revealed how the UK is lagging behind virtually all other industrialised countries in tackling the issue.

Fuel poverty - classified as when a household has to spend more than 10% of its overall income on fuel in order to heat their homes to a satisfactory level - is endemic in England, with an estimated total of 5.5million homes currently affected.

This amounts to an increase of 4.3million households over the last five years - despite the fact that Government has a legal duty to end fuel poverty entirely by 2016.

Dr Lucas, who is also Leader of the Green Party, today said: "Here in East Sussex, some 9% of the population suffer from fuel poverty and with energy prices set to increase, its pensioners and all others on low, fixed incomes will be highly vulnerable".

She continued: "About 30,000 people die of the cold each year in the UK, and with a recent Ofgem forecast estimating a staggering rise in energy costs of some £1000 per household, there is clearly a desperate need for government investment. We are talking about policy which not only improves energy efficiency, but has the potential to improve -
and even save - thousands of lives.

"The answer lies with increased funding for local councils. Increased resources are a must if we are to ensure that the most vulnerable members our community are to be adequately protected".

Earlier this year, Labour and Conservative councillors in Brighton and Hove voted against a Green budget package for a £10m insulation scheme that would have helped directly to cut fuel poverty in the city.

Ends

1. For more information:

Brighton and Hove Green Party (tel) 07545 502 160
(email) brighton.media@googlemail.com (web) www.carolinelucas.com

The Poverty Site
http://www.poverty.org.uk

Age Concern
www.ageconcern.org.uk/