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| Thousands to miss out on energy improvements, says Labour | Thousands to miss out on energy improvements, says Labour |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 54,000 homes in the UK will not now be insulated as a result of changes to energy bills, the Labour Party has claimed.QR barcodes plan for energy bills | |
| It follows the government's decision to remove some of the green levies from bills in December 2013. | It follows the government's decision to remove some of the green levies from bills in December 2013. |
| One of the levies - the energy company obligation (ECO) - pays for efficiency measures in vulnerable households. | One of the levies - the energy company obligation (ECO) - pays for efficiency measures in vulnerable households. |
| The government said consumers would still benefit from ECO, which has now been extended over a longer period. | The government said consumers would still benefit from ECO, which has now been extended over a longer period. |
| Labour's figures were compiled from 146 local authorities in Britain which replied to a freedom of information request. | Labour's figures were compiled from 146 local authorities in Britain which replied to a freedom of information request. |
| The data shows that 49 energy improvement schemes have been scrapped or put on hold, as a result of the changes. | The data shows that 49 energy improvement schemes have been scrapped or put on hold, as a result of the changes. |
| "Thousands of households will be left in the cold because of the government's dirty deal with the energy companies," said Caroline Flint, Labour's shadow energy secretary. | "Thousands of households will be left in the cold because of the government's dirty deal with the energy companies," said Caroline Flint, Labour's shadow energy secretary. |
| "The best way to cut people's energy bills is to invest in insulation and save the energy that escapes through our windows, walls and rooftops," she said. | "The best way to cut people's energy bills is to invest in insulation and save the energy that escapes through our windows, walls and rooftops," she said. |
| Bill reductions | Bill reductions |
| According to the survey, the North of England will be the worst affected by the decision not to proceed with insulation or efficiency measures. | According to the survey, the North of England will be the worst affected by the decision not to proceed with insulation or efficiency measures. |
| East Riding of Yorkshire said a scheme to improve 9,000 homes was now on hold. | East Riding of Yorkshire said a scheme to improve 9,000 homes was now on hold. |
| In Leeds, 4,000 homes will not be improved. Gateshead and Northumberland will also be badly hit. | In Leeds, 4,000 homes will not be improved. Gateshead and Northumberland will also be badly hit. |
| Kent has put a scheme to improve 5,000 homes on hold. | Kent has put a scheme to improve 5,000 homes on hold. |
| But the government said it had made an extra £540m available for energy efficiency schemes. | But the government said it had made an extra £540m available for energy efficiency schemes. |
| In December, it rescheduled the timetable for ECO, which had been due to end in 2015 but has now been extended to 2017. | In December, it rescheduled the timetable for ECO, which had been due to end in 2015 but has now been extended to 2017. |
| "Those changes will ensure that energy efficiency measures are more effectively targeted at homes which will benefit most," a spokesperson for the Department of Energy and Climate Change told the BBC. | "Those changes will ensure that energy efficiency measures are more effectively targeted at homes which will benefit most," a spokesperson for the Department of Energy and Climate Change told the BBC. |
| As a result of the changes announced in December, energy companies were able to announce a reduction of about £50 a year on bills. | As a result of the changes announced in December, energy companies were able to announce a reduction of about £50 a year on bills. |