LONDON, October 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Commenting on the figures out today from the Department of the Environment, which showed that between 2005 and 2006, the number of households classified as fuel poor jumped by one million to 3.5 million, Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite said:

"When the Government's own report acknowledges that millions more households have been pushed into fuel poverty as a direct result of increases in consumer energy prices, then it is time to stop talking to these companies about lagging the lofts and start making them do their duty by those in desperate need.

"If anything, these figures are a major underestimation of the true numbers who will be fuel poor this winter - it could be as many as five million homes that will face the inhumane choice of whether to heat or eat this year.

"We need more direct action to address this scourge. The energy and oil companies ballooned their profits by passing on massive price hikes to consumers. Now they need to do what is right and moral and provide financial assistance to vulnerable consumers this winter. If they will not do this of their own volition, then our Government must make them.

"A windfall tax to put GBP250 into the pockets of the suffering public, plus a rolling back of prices and a cap to stop future rises is the only way to ensure our old, frail and vulnerable are keep warm this winter."

Unite is collecting cases of people struggling to pay their fuel bills this year. This information will be used as part of Unite's campaign to secure fuel justice for millions of households across the UK.

For further information contact Pauline Doyle on +44(0)7976-832-861