Dismay as our Tory MP fails to vote on Fuel Poverty Bill and it falls.

3.00.00pm GMT Sun 22nd Mar 2009

The Fuel Poverty Bill introduced by Lib Dem MP David Heath fell on Friday 2oth March because fewer than 100 MPs turned up to vote. Tim Yeo South Suffolk's Conservative MP failed to attend and vote, as did all but 3 Conservative MPs. The Bill was 11 votes short of passing to the next stage.

"This non attendance shows that the Tories have no real aim to help the poorer members of our society or to tackle environmental challenges such as carbon emissions. David Cameron if genuine should be reading the riot act to his MPs. What is more important, getting home early for the weekend or a vote on eliminating fuel poverty." said Parliamentary Campaigner, Nigel Bennett.

The proposed bill would have introduced 3 measures.

To introduce an energy efficiency programme to bring existing homes up to current energy efficiency levels.

To introduce social tariffs to limit vulnerable households exposure to higher energy bills.

To reinforce the legal duty on the government to act to end fuel poverty.

5.5 million people live in fuel poverty where 10% of their income is spent on energy of which 2.75 million are older people on fixed incomes (estimate Age Concern)