MP welcomes Chancellor's Warm Homes Boost


6 December 2005

The Government's Warm Homes Campaign, which provides grants to pensioner households to make their homes warmer and less expensive to heat, received a further boost from the Chancellor this week as Gordon Brown announced an extension of the scheme to provide help to every pensioner household.

One household to benefit from the Warm Homes Campaign was Rossington resident John Sharpin who showed Don Valley MP Caroline Flint the improvements made to his home as part of the warm homes campaign. Ms Flint heard from Mr Sharpin how the Government-funded Warm Homes Campaign gave him a grant for a new boiler, hot water tank and cavity wall insulation.

Said Ms Flint: "I want every pensioner household to get the benefit of the warm homes campaign without delay. Every household receiving pensioner credit can have a free central heating installation and wherever central heating is installed, the energy suppliers have agreed to put in loft or cavity insulation for free. All other pensioner households will qualify for a £300 grant towards new central heating and discounts on insulation worth between £125 and £175.

Said Mr Sharpin, who benefited from Warm Front grants: "In the first few months, the new boiler seems to be 50-60% more efficient than our previous boiler. The Government has done so much for the elderly and this initiative is great for home owners and good for the environment."

Said Ms Flint: "The Warm Homes Campaign has already helped over 3,083 households in Don Valley and, with the Chancellor's insulation grants announced this week, I hope we will see many more. To find out how to cut your winter fuel bills, ring the Keep Warm Keep Well helpline on 0800 085 7000."

For more information contact Phil Cole 07973 367869 or Alice Steel, NEA press Officer 0191 261 5677.