PRE-PAYMENT METERS

Early day motion 276, tabled 11 December 2003 by Andy King (Labour). Signed by 42 members.

That this House notes that, according to the National Consumer Council's recent report, Lifelines, around two million customers pay for their gas on pre-payment meters and more, about 3.6 million, do so for their electricity; recognises that PPMs are the most expensive payment method and notes that 1.3 million people in the UK are estimated to be in fuel poverty, and that over one million fuel poor are paying more per unit for their energy on PPMs, than those who can pay by other methods; further notes that the 12 per cent. to 15 per cent. of households without a bank account are forced to use PPMs, as are those who are in debt to suppliers, those who have a poor credit rating and those who are unfortunate enough to live at an address where the previous occupants had a bad credit rating; welcomes the Government's target to eradicate fuel poverty in the UK by 2016; and therefore calls on the Government to take action, as a matter of urgency, to explore the option of requiring a unit of energy to cost the same across all payment methods, to ensure that the poor no longer have to pay more for their fuel.

Signatures by party: Labour 30, Liberal Democrat 7, Labour/Co-operative 3, Conservative 1, Plaid Cymru 1.