Warm Front freezes out 10,000 families

A STAGGERING 10,000 vulnerable families in Oldham are missing out on a flagship scheme to cut their fuel bills because the Government is failing to target those who are most in need.

A report published today by the Commons Public Accounts Committee says the Government’s Warm Front scheme — offering home energy improvements to households receiving benefits — is targeting the wrong groups.

Warm Front provides a package of insulation and heating improvements up to the value of £2,700 — or £4,000 if oil central heating is recommended.

Anyone who owns their own home or rents from a private landlord may be eligible for a grant.

However, according to the report, only 35 per cent of those in fuel poverty actually qualify as they must receive specific state benefits. It means only 5,082 of the 14,521 households in Oldham in fuel poverty — actually get help.

Fuel poverty is defined as when an individual or family has to spend more than 10 per cent of their income on fuel bills.

Committee chairman Edward Leigh said: “The Warm Front scheme seems to be failing many of the poorest and most vulnerable households.

“It is unclear whether the primary aim of the Scheme is to improve the energy efficiency of homes or to reduce fuel poverty.

“If the latter, then the scheme is certainly still missing the mark a lot of the time.

“As more families sink into fuel poverty, the Warm Front scheme must be focused much more sharply on households genuinely needing help.”

MPs said having to contribute to the scheme because costs exceeded the grants was also a big disadvantage for vulnerable households.

And it criticised the fact that there had not been a change in maximum grant from July, 2005, to April, 2009 — despite soaring labour costs and bills.

Too many grants were also awarded to households that were already very energy-efficient.

Warm Front has helped more than 635,000 households at a cost of £852 million.

Many MPs have called for a windfall tax on the profits of the energy companies to fund a help-package for those who have been affected by fuel poverty.