Cold comfort: The social and environmental determinants of excess winter death in England, 1986-96

by Paul Wilkinson, Megan Landon, Ben Armstrong

The UK government has recently introduced a new home energy efficiency scheme (known as Warm Front) to improve the energy efficiency of dwellings of those on low income. The aim of this scheme is partly to tackle the adverse health consequences (including winter death) of inadequate home heating. This is the first study to make a direct connection between the risk of winter mortality and housing quality in England. It demonstrates that people living in homes that are difficult or costly to heat are at increased risk of winter/cold-related death.

40 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2001

About the author

Paul Wilkinson was a terrorism expert and an Emeritus Professor of International Relations and Director of the University of St Andrews Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence (CSTPV).

Dubbed "Britain's leading academic specialist in the study of terrorism", he was a frequent commentator in mainstream British media and an advisor to the UK government.