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Home heating scheme woes probed Home heating scheme woes probed
(about 5 hours later)
MPs are to examine why some pensioners and vulnerable people in England were left without winter heating, despite a government-funded energy scheme.MPs are to examine why some pensioners and vulnerable people in England were left without winter heating, despite a government-funded energy scheme.
The BBC has seen complaints from dozens of people who rely on the Warm Front scheme to get their boilers repaired.The BBC has seen complaints from dozens of people who rely on the Warm Front scheme to get their boilers repaired.
Warm Front has helped about two million households in the last decade but some have now been told it could be up to six months before they are seen. Warm Front has helped about two million households in the past decade but some have now been told it could be up to six months before they are seen.
The Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee is to mount an investigation. The Commons energy and climate change committee is to investigate.
An estimated four million households in the UK live in so-called fuel poverty, spending more than 10% of their annual income on energy. An estimated four million households in the UK live in so-called fuel poverty, spending more than 10% of their income on energy.
Warm Front awards grants to householders in England to install and improve heating systems.Warm Front awards grants to householders in England to install and improve heating systems.
Some customers have told the BBC of long delays, poor workmanship and claim they have been left without heating or hot water after their boilers broke down. Some customers have told the BBC of long delays and poor workmanship, and claim they have been left without heating or hot water after their boilers broke down.
The Energy and Climate Change Committee monitors the scheme. The energy and climate change committee monitors the scheme.
One of the committee's members, Paddy Tipping, MP for Sherwood, has described the situation as unacceptable. One of the committee's members, Paddy Tipping, Labour MP for Sherwood, has described the situation as unacceptable.
Earlier this month, he told the BBC that more funding should be made available for Warm Front and the scheme needs to provide a better aftercare service. Earlier this month, he told the BBC that more funding should be made available for Warm Front and that the scheme needed to provide a better aftercare service.
'Complainers in minority'
"I think one of the things that we need to do is look at the balance of funding between insulation, the initial work and the aftercare," he said."I think one of the things that we need to do is look at the balance of funding between insulation, the initial work and the aftercare," he said.
"I think the problems that we've seen over recent weeks suggest there may be a problem with aftercare. Let's look at the issue, let's see whether it might make sense to transfer money into a better aftercare system.""I think the problems that we've seen over recent weeks suggest there may be a problem with aftercare. Let's look at the issue, let's see whether it might make sense to transfer money into a better aftercare system."
Energy and Climate Change Minister David Kidney said: "Warm Front is not an emergency service, it is a very popular grant scheme and like any popular scheme there is a waiting list.
"We are working with the scheme managers, Eaga, to manage that and monitor the quality of workmanship.
"However, the level of complaints to Warm Front are in the minority with nine out of 10 customers happy to recommend the scheme to a friend."