27 October 2008
Age Concern has said it is disappointed with the High Court's decision to dismiss its fuel poverty challenge against the government. The charity applied for a judicial review to force the government to meet its target of eradicating fuel poverty among vulnerable households by 2010 and among all households by 2016. However, a judge has dismissed their request, insisting that government departments are not legally obliged to act on the issue. Gordon Lishman, Director General of Age Concern, said: "This ruling fails to recognise the struggle that millions of vulnerable households are facing to afford heating their homes and the government's responsibility to protect them." He urged ministers to work with gas and electricity providers to reform their social tariffs and end inequality to ensure that low income families are able to access the cheapest deals. According to government figures, some 1.5 million households in England were living in fuel poverty in 2005. This figure is expected to rise above 3.5 million in 2008.