Prynhawn Da a Croeso / Good Afternoon and Welcome to this Get Winter Ready event and Fuel Poverty Charity National Energy Action – NEA – Cymru’s launch of their annual Warm and Safe Homes Campaign 2018.
I am delighted to have so many stakeholders join us today and pleased that we are being joined by the Cabinet Secretary.
As Chair of the Assembly’s Cross-party Group on Fuel Poverty in previous Assembly’s, and current Chair of the Cross Party Group on Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency in this Assembly, I have been working with campaigners and raising fuel poverty issues in the Assembly for many years.
A household in Wales is said to be in fuel poverty if they spend 10% or more of their income on energy costs – and to be in severe fuel poverty if they have to spend 20% or more of their income on energy costs.
According to figures from 2016, 23% of Welsh households – 291,000 homes – were in living in fuel poverty and approximately 2,700 people have died in Wales because of cold homes since 2012.
The Warm and Safe Homes Campaign is NEA’s annual winter initiative, focusing on the need for people to be able to stay warm in their homes.
The campaign aims to raise awareness amongst both politicians and members of the public of both:
- the problem of fuel poverty and the action needed to be taken at a policy level
- and the help and support available locally for those struggling to heat their homes.
It also highlights key messages around gas and electricity safety in the home.
The campaign will run between Wednesday 28 November 2018 and Fuel Poverty Awareness Day on Friday 15 February 2019.
The connection between fuel poverty and health is very real.
The annual cost to the Welsh NHS of treating people made ill by living in a cold damp home is approximately £67 million.
Health impacts caused by cold homes predominantly relate to cardiovascular and respiratory problems.
Low temperatures also diminish resistance to infection and encourage damp and mould growth in the home.
Cold indoor conditions have also been linked to poor mental health resulting from anxiety and stress.
Cold homes can also exacerbate social isolation and reduce educational attainment.
Evidence by NEA shows that a cold home can also worsen arthritic conditions and rheumatic conditions, and increase propensity to falls.
Advice, support, and heating and insulation improvements can help address all of these problems.
Governments, Local Authorities, Housing Associations, energy suppliers, regulators, network companies, Health Boards, AND third sector organisations must work collabulary and collectively to ensure everyone can enjoy the comfort of a safe and warm home.
I am now pleased to introduce the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths.