"Devasting blow" for households in fuel poverty - Not enough MPs bothered to turn up to vote for the Fuel Poverty Bill

The Fuel Poverty Bill has been thrown out of parliament because not enough MPs could be bothered to vote.

The Bill proposed to make homes more energy-efficient and introduce lower prices for vulnerable households, but was rejected in its second reading in the House of Commons this afternoon. It received 89 votes for and two votes against - but needed 100 votes to get through.

Charities say the poor turn-out in the Commons was because most MPs return home to their constituencies on Friday afternoons.

Jonathan Stearn, energy expert for Consumer Focus, said: "We are dismayed that the Government has talked out a Bill to end fuel poverty. The failure of this Bill is a devastating blow for millions of the most vulnerable pensioners, families and disabled people who will be left struggling in fuel poverty."

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"The proposed energy efficiency and social tariff measures would have 'fuel poverty proofed' homes and would have stopped the poor paying more for their energy.

"By not supporting the Bill the government has dramatically failed the poorest consumers. We need urgent action to help the millions of at-risk households and this is a major lost opportunity. This is a sad day for those who are facing a daily battle to afford to heat their homes."

There are currently 5.5 million households living in "fuel poverty", where one tenth or more of income goes on gas and electricity bills. David Heath, the Liberal Democrat MP, put forward the Fuel Poverty Bill after it has become clear that the Government's attempts at tackling the problem were not working.

By 'fuel poverty proofing homes' using the energy efficiency measures outlined in the Bill, the average annual energy bill would have been reduced by 52 per cent, from £1,272 to £610.

At least 83 per cent of those living in fuel poverty could be lifted out of fuel poverty by a programme of standard energy efficiency and renewable measures, according to Consumer Focus.

Gordon Lishman of Age Concern said: "This is a huge let-down for the 2.75 million older people living in fuel poverty and many will question why a Government which claims to be concerned about fuel poverty has acted in such a cynical way."