SOCIAL ENERGY TARIFFS

Early day motion 1781, tabled 12 June 2008 by Alan Simpson (Labour). Signed by 72 members.

That this House notes the agreement for the UK's energy suppliers to spend £150 million a year on initiatives to help the fuel poor by March 2010-11; views with concern the fact that initiatives being proposed include social tariffs that are more expensive than the supplier's best offer; notes that Ofgem's definition sets the threshold for a social tariff rate as being `at least as good as the suppliers' standard direct debit tariff'; further notes that since many fuel-poor households currently pay by direct debit, a significant proportion of people living in fuel poverty are effectively excluded from any additional assistance; believes that recent price increases and the potential for further price increases means there is an urgent need for additional assistance that reaches fuel-poor households; and supports representations made to Ofgem and the major energy suppliers by Energywatch, the Parliamentary Warm Homes Group and a coalition of NGOs that would require social tariffs offered to those hit hardest by increasing energy prices to mean the lowest tariffs that suppliers offer on the market.

Signatures by party: Labour 44, Liberal Democrat 17, Scottish National Party 3, DUP 2, Independent 2, Conservative 1, Independent Labour 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UKIP 1.