Michael Fabricant has congratulated the Warm Front Scheme in helping 1,982 families in tackling fuel poverty in Lichfield, Burntwood and surrounding villages. Michael says: "I urge more local residents to come forward and get help with measures that could cut their energy bills by anything up to £600 a year. Over £2 million has been spent in the Lichfield constituency."

Michael Fabricant adds: "Solutions which tackle climate change are vital, but they must also address social issues such as fuel poverty at the same time.

"The Warm Front scheme aims to help people with energy efficiency and is vital in helping increasing numbers of people who are finding energy bills a heavy burden."

The Warm Front Scheme works by providing contributions of up to £2,700 towards insulation and heating measures for the elderly, disabled and low income families. Green support services company eaga reported record take up figures since Warm Front started in June 2000 with 1982 households in Lichfield having benefited from the scheme. These households benefited from a range of energy efficiency measures including loft and cavity wall insulation, new heating systems and draught proofing.

To date £2,252,991.86 has been invested by Warm Front in the Lichfield area. Many of those who have benefited from the Scheme are reporting average households savings of anything between £300 and £600 a year.

As well as benefiting from energy efficiency measures, households contacting eaga are also receiving a free benefit entitlement and to date 154 homes in the Lichfield constituency have increased their average weekly income by £ 19.71.

Michael says: "Rising fuel prices and the need to protect the environment from dangerous CO2 levels are making the work of Warm Front Scheme increasingly important.

"To qualify for Warm Front, residents must either own their own home or live in privately rented accommodation and should be in receipt of a qualifying benefit. To find out more about the Scheme and see if they qualify, households should contact Warm Front on freephone: 0800 316 6014."

Photograph shows Michael Fabricant with Stuart Barnes of eaga when the two met at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham earlier this month.