Approximately 4,706 lives were lost during the harsh winter of 2022/23 due to living in cold, damp homes in England, Scotland and Wales.

These statistics, compiled by the End Fuel Poverty Coalition using official data, will be presented later today to MPs who will be joining a session of the House of Commons Energy Security and Net Zero Committee.

Additionally, a report from the Warm This Winter campaign assesses the government’s progress on eight key measures to address the energy bills crisis.

According to the report, half of these measures show no progress by government ministers.

The report underscores the need for urgent action on three measures and highlights an area where the government’s actions have “worsened” the nation’s reliance on expensive fossil fuels.

Simon Francis, Coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, commented: “The public see tackling energy bills as the main way the government can help ease the cost of living crisis, but sadly ministers have been making slow or no progress on the policies needed to keep people warm this winter and the next.”

A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson told Energy Live News: “We recognise people are concerned about cost of living challenges and we will continue to support vulnerable households with their energy bills.

“The government spent around £40 billion covering half a typical household‘s energy bill over the winter, and additional help is available for the most vulnerable through an increase to the Warm Home Discount – from which we expect over three million households to benefit.

“Energy prices have now fallen significantly and we are keeping options under review, including for the most vulnerable households.”