TORFAEN MP Paul Murphy backed calls for the money raised from carbon taxes to be used to help those struggling to keep warm this winter.

Last week in Westminster Mr Murphy urged the government to do more to improve the energy efficiency of homes.

Just over one in four families with children in Wales are fuel poor, meaning they spend more than 10 per cent of their net income on heating.

Last year 30,000 people died across Britain because of the cold.

Mr Murphy added: “Far too many people face the unacceptable choice between heating their home and having enough food to eat.

“This cannot be right in 21st- century Britain, particularly when the bosses of energy companies are getting huge bonuses while they raise their customers’ bills.”

The government raises more than £4 billion each year through carbon taxes.

The Cold Homes Week campaign, which is run by a coalition of almost 180 charities, calls on the government to use this cash to improve energy efficiency of struggling households.

The high upfront cost of cutting energy usage is beyond the reach of many without government support.

Director of the Energy Bill Revolution, Ed Matthew, said: “We welcome Mr Murphy’s support for the Energy Bill Revolution. Government must take immediate action to help the millions of people struggling to pay their energy bills, instead of always siding with the few who are making millions in profits.”