TACKLING FUEL POVERTY IN WALES

Early day motion 339, tabled 29 November 2006 by Jennifer Willott (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 19 members.

That this House notes with deep concern the rise in fuel poverty in Wales from 140,000 Welsh households in 2004 to over 300,000 this winter, which is one in four Welsh households; further notes with deep concern the welfare and health of thousands of Welsh pensioners and low income families who will be unable to afford to heat their homes this winter; further notes that last winter there were 1,500 excess winter deaths in Wales; further notes with disappointment the lack of new measures to tackle fuel poverty in the Government's energy review; believes far more needs to be done in Wales to tackle fuel poverty; and strongly urges the Government to consider expanding its fuel poverty strategy by reducing VAT on energy efficiency materials, reversing its decision to impose VAT on Energy Savings Trust expenditure, increasing winter fuel payments and encouraging those eligible to invest some of their money into upgrading the energy efficiency of the home, substantially increasing the energy efficiency standards of new buildings at least in line with EU law, requiring all new buildings to have smart meters installed as standard and strongly encouraging the uptake of microgeneration units.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 14, DUP 3, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.