FUEL COSTS AND FUEL POVERTY

Early day motion 672, tabled 9 January 2008 by Paul Rowen (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 69 members.

That this House notes that Npower has announced that electricity prices for its domestic customers will rise by an average of 12.7 per cent., gas bills will rise by 17.2 per cent. and that its average dual-fuel customer will pay more than £1,000 a year; expects that other providers' prices will soon rise; further notes that fuel price rises will more than wipe out the winter fuel payment for most pensioners; further notes that when prices of fuel dropped in 2007 charges to customers did not fall by the same proportion; is concerned that fuel poverty in the UK is on the rise; calls on the Government to address the problems people face of ever rising fuel prices by investing in energy efficiency in UK homes; and further calls on the Government to protect pensioners from possible future above-inflation rises in fuel prices by not waiting until 2012 as planned to restore the link between the state pension and earnings.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 38, Labour 17, Scottish National Party 4, Plaid Cymru 3, Conservative 2, DUP 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Independent 1.