PENSIONERS AND ELDERLY PEOPLE AND FUEL POVERTY

That this House congratulates the Lancashire Telegraph on its campaign for better protection for pensioners and elderly people; notes with concern that during this six week cold snap period there has been a 30 per cent. rise in respiratory-related deaths in the elderly population compared with 15 per cent. for the rest of the population of East Lancashire; further notes that fuel poverty is increasing because of the increasing rise of energy prices, which take a bigger proportion of people's fixed pensions; further notes that elderly people with saving accounts are being greatly affected by ever-decreasing interest rates; and calls on the Government, local government and charities to work together to bring forward a programme of measures better to help protect the elderly people in the country, particularly in this time of recession.