Archived press release

Urgent action needed to stop winter deaths

1 December 1999

Today [1 December] is the first day for counting this year's 'excess winter deaths'. Between now and the end of March thousands of people are expected to die as a consequence of living in cold homes. Friends of the Earth is calling on politicians to stop this national scandal by backing a new law - the Warm Homes Bill - to insulate millions of homes nationwide over the next 15 years. If action isn't taken, FOE estimates that there could be as many as 130,000 excess winter deaths by the next general election. On Saturday FOE groups around the UK will take part in Warm Homes day of action in support of the bill.

The Warm Homes Bill, drawn up by FOE, sets out a nationwide 15 year energy efficiency programme to insulate the homes of the fuel poor and provide essential central heating.Following last week's Private Members Ballot, MPs are being approached to introduce it into Parliament.

FOE's analysis of Government figures suggests there will be over 130,000 “excess winter deaths” in the UK before the next general election. The figures by region are [2]:
Region Excess Winter Deaths Region Excess Winter Deaths
East Anglia 12,067 Midlands 23,338
North East 18,791 North West 17,552
South East 19,327 South West 13,045
London 14,340 Wales 8,312

Martyn Williams, Parliamentary Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
“Every year tens of thousands of people die because their homes are too cold during the winter. Politicians must take action to stop this scandal from continuing. This is why the Warm Homes Bill is so important. It will help people to insulate their homes and allow them to keep warm and cut their fuel bills at the same time. The bill is also good news for the planet. It will save energy and stop dangerous climate changing gases being released into the atmosphere.”

[1]. The situation where people can't afford to keep warm at home is known as fuel poverty. It exists when people on low incomes live in energy inefficient homes. They're forced to use wasteful sources of heating - such as single bar electric fires - for warmth which disappears through uninsulated roofs and drafty windows. Around 8 million UK households simply can't afford to keep warm because their housing has little or no insulation or central heating. Hundreds of thousands of people fall ill each year costing the NHS an estimated £1 billion each year [Watt Committee on energy, 1994.].

[2]. Excess winter deaths are calculated by The Office for National Statistics in England and Wales and the Office of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Scotland between December and March. The 130,000 figure is a projection based on 1995/6 figures and assumes that there will be 3 winters before the next general election.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust