CHILDREN are set to suffer from rocketing energy bills, poverty campaigners have warned, as new figures released ahead of Wednesday’s Spring Statement reveal the devastating impact of the cost-of-living crisis on households. 

Damning new figures published today by the End Fuel Poverty Coalition predict that recent rises in energy bills will take the number of households with children in fuel poverty to over 2.5 million from April 1.

If this happens, the number of children in fuel poverty will have doubled since 2019.

The percentage of all households with children in fuel poverty is estimated to rise to a staggering 38.6 per cent from 19.4 per cent in 2019 after Ofgem’s price cap increase comes into effect next month.

The coalition predicts that 55.7 per cent of lone-parent households will be in fuel poverty from April. The figure is 33.4 per cent for couples with dependent children.

The group’s co-ordinator Simon Francis said: “The stark reality of life under the government’s energy crisis is clear to see.

“Among the worst affected will be the most vulnerable, including children.

“Expert studies show that living in fuel poverty can have a detrimental impact on children’s health, well-being and even their ability to learn.

“We need to see a full package of measures to help those in fuel poverty now, alongside urgent work to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and move the country to a secure, sustainable, non-fossil-fuel-based energy supply.”

Save the Children director of UK impact Dan Paskins said: “These figures show that this year, a child in a single-parent family is more likely to experience fuel poverty than not.

“The best way of supporting families through this crisis is by making sure benefits keep up with rising costs — but right now, they’re on track for a real-terms cut.”

Citizens Advice head of energy policy Gillian Cooper told the business, energy and industrial strategy committee today that the government’s current support measures are “insufficient for the scale of the crisis we’re facing.”

Ms Cooper said: “Without further support we’re heading towards a crisis where a significant proportion of the population cannot afford to keep safe and warm in their home.”

She called for a benefits adjustment to reflect the actual inflation rate and more targeted support for households on the lowest incomes through benefits, grants, increased eligibility for the warm home grant and expansion of the energy bills rebate while delaying its payback timeframe, or removing it altogether by turning it into a grant.

Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis also told the committee that the current package of measures to help those on the lowest incomes cope with energy bill increases was not enough, adding that the government “needs to give them more money. It really is as simple as that.”

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell has said “radical action” is needed by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in his Spring Statement on Wednesday “to increase incomes, control prices, control rents and to invest in sustainable green growth.”

Labour MP Richard Burgon said: “Instead of National Insurance hikes for millions of people, we could raise the same amount of money with a 1.5 per cent tax on any wealth over £5 million.

“Remember that when the Tories say there is no alternative.”

And with millions of workers struggling to pay bills, Unison general secretary Christina McAnea warned the Chancellor of the “real danger that staff working in the NHS, care, schools, police forces and councils will look for work elsewhere, leaving vital services unable to cope.”

Ms McAnea said: “What’s needed from the Chancellor is funding for an above-inflation pay rise across the entire public sector.”