The government’s half-hearted commitment to its environmental commitments has the potential to worsen the growing problem of winter deaths, says Keith Taylor, Green MEP for the South East.
It's been reported by the BBC (1) that ministers want to implement the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) scheme that gives free home insulation to low income households more slowly, over four years instead of two. This planned slow-down comes despite a hike in the number of winter deaths (2).
In advance of the Autumn Statement, the government is examining measures to cut households energy bills. Labour Leader Ed Miliband has promised a price freeze if elected as Prime Minister.
One of the Green Party's senior politicians, Keith Taylor, has responded to reports of the government's plans:
"If these reports are correct then they reveal a government which is willing to expose thousands of people to dangerously cold conditions for the sake of spending slightly less per year on environmental measures.
“Time and time again we've seen this government edge away from its green commitments as its true colours are revealed. But this move, which will expose people in fuel poverty to a longer period without decent insulation, is particularly callous considering we know that 31,000 people died winter-related deaths last year."
NOTES:
1) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25132843
2) In the past year, the Office for National Statistics estimates that 31,000 excess deaths were due to winter conditions http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/nov/26/excess-winter-deaths-up-29