A FORMER Worcester MP has taken on a new role to help tackle fuel poverty in the UK.

Former government minister and Labour MP for Worcester between 1997 and 2010, Mike Foster, is already in the position of chief executive of the Energy and Utilities Alliance.

He has now been appointed non-executive chairman of Affordable Warmth Solution (AWS), a community interest company set up by National Grid in 2008 to help tackle fuel poverty.

Fuel poverty is estimated to affect more than four million UK households with people living in cold, expensive to heat homes, and around 40,000 people die early each year as a result of the cold.

AWS works in deprived communities nationally offering new gas connections, discounted gas central heating systems, as well as advice on energy efficiency and tariffs.

AWS also delivers the Fuel Poor Network Extension programme, set out by the energy regulator Ofgem, for Cadent Gas which covers the West Midlands.

Mr Foster took over the unpaid role of chairman at the company’s annual meeting, held in June.

Mr Foster said: "Tackling fuel poverty in the UK has become a real passion for me, now I work in this sector.

"That’s why I was thrilled and delighted to be asked to take on this new role.

"AWS has a tremendous record in delivering schemes that tackle fuel poverty. I hope we can deliver many more programmes in the years to come, as together we our partners, we try and eliminate fuel poverty.

“Fitting first time central heating systems, connected to the gas grid, is a proven way of tackling fuel poverty.

"Gas tariffs are considerably cheaper than electric, and gas central heating is a popular and flexible way to heat a home."

“At a time when energy prices is high on the political agenda, I am confident that fuel poverty concerns will become a greater focus for policymakers and I know that AWS can make a real contribution to the debate of how to tackle fuel poverty.”