English struggling with energy bills given only tenth of the help Scottish and Welsh neighbours get

In a shocking report, it was claimed that people in England who are struggling with energy bills only get tenth of the help Scottish and Welsh do.

15:43 28 March 2014

The UK Fuel Poverty Monitor from charities National Energy Action and Energy Action Scotland has published a damning report claiming that English who are struggling with energy bills are not getting as much help compared to their Scottish and Welsh counterparts.

The report revealed that in Wales and Scotland, £31.78 of Government funding is available per domestic electricity consumer to improve domestic energy efficiency. This number drops to just £3.52 in England.

Caroline Flint, Labour’s Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, said: “These figures are a damning indictment of the Government’s failure to tackle spiralling energy bills and invest in energy efficiency.

"The most sustainable way to cut people's energy bills is to invest in insulation and save the energy that escapes through our windows, walls and rooftops. But because of David Cameron’s cuts to the so-called green levies, nearly half a million fewer households will get help.”

Meanwhile, Glasgow North West MP John Robertson said that the results were “disappointing.”

“There is a clear divide among the regions. My constituents obviously benefit from being part of a wider energy policy in the UK as well as benefiting from community-based projects in Scotland.

"Energy efficiency measures can help people facing rising energy bills and it is disappointing that the UK Government hasn’t helped those in England as much as in Scotland and Wales.”