news story

9th January 2008

Local MP Challenges Prime Minister In commons Over Fuel Price Hikes

Click here to read the exchange in the House of Commons

Click here to see how this issue was reported in the Daily Mail

Northavon MP Steve Webb has today (Wednesday 9th) challenged the Prime Minister in the House of Commons over the soaring price of gas and electricity. The MP used a slot at Prime Minister's Questions to highlight the impact of rising fuel bills on vulnerable groups such as pensioners.

He quoted figures from the House of Commons library which showed that the average pensioner household is now paying more than £300 a year extra in fuel bills than four years ago - more than wiping out the value of the annual Winter Fuel Payment. He then questioned why the Government is cutting back on spending on its own 'Warm Front' programme of home insulation for older and vulnerable people.

The Prime Minister responded by quoting the various programmes that the Government had spent money on over the last ten years.

Commenting, Steve Webb said:

"The latest round of fuel price hikes will hit people hard, especially many pensioners, disabled people and families on low incomes. Coming on top of several years of gas and electricity price rises, these latest increases will be a huge blow to consumers. Fuel poverty, where people have to spend a high proportion of their income just to heat their homes properly, has increased dramatically over the last few years.

"The best solution is to make sure that people have properly insulated homes and that they are not paying ever increasing bills to see their money almost literally going up in smoke through draughty windows and doors. It is therefore outrageous that the Government is cutting back on one of its key home insulation programmes".

Note: The House of Commons library has calculated that the average pensioner household under 75 has seen their fuel bill rise by over £400 since 2004/05, and the average over 75 has seen an increase of over £300.