MP given the cold facts on cancer and fuel bills

Bexhillian Joy Beddows, who with Mary Clarke (pictured) presented the plea to Mr Barker, said: “When my husband, Dennis, was being treated for cancer he really suffered from the cold. It was difficult to keep him warm and we had to have our heating on all the time.

“Our energy bills went through the roof and worrying about how we were going to pay the mounting bills was the last thing we needed”.

Supporters told Macmillan’s campaign website about what makes them feel warm and watched via a web-cam as a knitted pattern was created digitally on the real scarf by an Infi-knit machine.

New figures released by the government this week show the number of UK households in fuel poverty rose by one million in 2009 to 5.5 million.

Mike Hobday, Head of Policy at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “These figures are deeply worrying for the thousands of cancer patients who already face rising energy fuel bills. Their condition makes them feel the cold more, and consequently, they spend a lot of time at home during treatment or recovery, pushing up their energy bills.”

Mr Barker said: “Macmillan Cancer Support is doing tremendous work in bringing the issues that people affected by cancer are facing to the attention of me and my colleagues in government.

“The coalition is committed to helping everyone heat their homes more affordably which is why, for the first time, we are requiring energy suppliers to provide discounts off fuel bills for low income, vulnerable households through the Warm Home Discount.

“The Green Deal will also start next year helping everyone access energy efficiency measures at no upfront costs, whether you own or rent your home, and will be the biggest home improvement programme since the Second World War.”