AROUND 900 people in the borough are likely to die before the next General Election from `fuel poverty'.

The figures, based on council information, show 291 people died from cold-related illness or deprivation in the borough in 1996.

Friends of The Earth, Help the Aged and other national bodies have called on the Government to adopt legislation to end the situation.

The Warm Homes Bill is intended to end "unnecessary deaths" by a programme of energy insulation targeted at improving living conditions of needy people.

The only borough MP to agree to the Early Day Motion has been Orpington's John Horam.

He said: "We think this is a big issue and the government must not ignore it.

"We have a real problem in this country with houses not being properly insulated. Elderly people's incomes are being reduced because of low interest rates and I fear they will economise by not properly heating their houses.

"We need a programme to bring about the insulation of houses as soon as possible."

Friends of The Earth campaigner Paul de Zylva said: "The Government must support our Bill and turn it into law to stop the unnecessary winter deaths. Too many people live in homes that are grossly inefficient to heat and keep warm.

Bromley and Chislehurst MP Eric Forth and Beckenham MP Jaqui Lait said they do not sign Early Day Motions as a rule. They believe in taking more direct action.

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