Jan 8, 2009 - Fuel poverty at Mobile Home Parks

Jan 8, 2010 - Fuel poverty at Mobile Home Parks

THE Government is to set up pilot schemes to help mobile home owners reduce their energy bills, following pressure from Mark. During a Parliamentary debate yesterday (Thurs, Jan 7), the MP raised the needs of mobile homes residents who have high fuel bills because they do not get a choice of energy suppliers - they have no mains gas and many rely on oil or bottled gas. Their homes are also often inefficient to heat and poorly insulated. There are mobile homes in many parts of Mark's constituency with parks in Hartshorne; Coton-in-the-Elms; Overseal; Shelton Lock and Weston-on -Trent. For the past few years, Mark has been trying to help residents with fuel poverty. He has held meetings in Hartshorne and Coton-in-the-Elms, which were attended by the charity National Energy Action, to talk about new heating systems and other ways through which energy costs can be cut . Yesterday Mark told Parliamentary Under Secretary David Kidney that these residents were often on a low income. He added: "They have a very limited choice of energy supply, and also lack options for additional insulation to improve the efficiency of their homes. I have raised this issue before, and the Government has so far done very little to assist that group of consumers to reduce the proportion of their income spent on energy bills. Is there anything that he can do now?" Mr Kidney replied: "I am pleased to say that in response to his pressure, the department has agreed that it wants to pilot some schemes for delivering greater energy efficiency measures to park homes. He added: "I am not in a position to announce at the dispatch box today what the schemes will be, but I will be able to do so shortly." Mark will pursue the Government on what these schemes will entail. He said: "This is welcome news. I only wish it had come sooner. The meetings I have held in this area show owners have a keen interest in their energy bills. Many have tried to get assistance to either insulate their homes or replace inefficient heating systems. They seldom qualify for the government-supported schemes. I will now seek further details on what is planned based on the practical experience of South Derbyshire residents. The last thing we will need is some pilot projects that don't work here."

Mark Todd