Lack of cheap energy partly behind criticism from Oxfam - 14/04/2009
With many people struggling to pay high prices from energy suppliers, Oxfam has called for sweeping reforms to help Britain's poorest families.
As the country has become gripped by recession and unemployment has begun to rise, the charity believes that many families are facing an uncertain future and need more government help.
Part of the measures proposed to tackle the situation includes greater focus on renewable energy throughout the UK to help reduce household bills and alleviate fuel poverty.
According to the Guardian, the charity said: "The UK is in recession and things stand to get much worse for the fifth of the population already living in poverty and for the millions more whose livelihood will become more vulnerable as a result."
Charity Save the Children recently announced plans to issue cash handouts to some of the country's most vulnerable families, partly in response to the pressure of high household energy prices.
Substantial energy price hikes were implemented last year, with record oil prices a major contributing factor.
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