The issue of 'fuel poverty' is on the agenda this week, and is being raised tomorrow at Prime Minister's Questions (16th January). During the winter of 2005 - 2006 there wer more than 24,000 excess winter deaths in England. More than 90% of winter deaths occur in the pensioner population.

Figures produced by the Warm Homes Campaign 2007 (the annual fuel poverty campaign organised by the national energy efficiency charity NEA) show that 7.4% of households in Camden  live in fuel poverty.  17% of dwellings in this region failed the thermal comfort element of the DHS.

The Government-funded Home Front scheme (run by eaga) has been running Benefit Entitlement Checks for constituents within Hampstead and Highgate, and has benefitted the constituents in the following ways:

Over three hundred housholds have had work carried out on their heating systems by the Home Front scheme with 196 receiving improved insulation. In total, almost £230,00 has been spent to improve heating systems in recent years.

For more information about the Warm Front scheme, visit www.warmfront.co.uk. and for more information about the Warm Homes Campaign, visit www.nea.org.uk/Campaigns/Warm_Campaign.