Consumer Focus: Increased Warm Front grants

Jonathan Stearn, energy expert for Consumer Focus said: "This welcome increase to the Warm Front grant will help many of the poorest customers who have previously dropped out of the scheme because they could not afford the top-up fees needed. However, many vulnerable consumers will still lose out.

"With no corresponding funding increase, fewer homes will be able to be helped by the scheme. The increased grant is also still inadequate for the improvements needed for many hard to treat homes, in which nearly half of those in fuel poverty live.

"Unless there is an increase in Warm Front funding and the range of improvements allowed, many of the poorest customers will continue to live in cold, energy inefficient homes. Radical energy efficiency measures are also needed on a wider scale, if the Government is serious about ending fuel poverty."