MPs urged to back 'Warm Homes' Bill to combat fuel poverty

8.36.58pm GMT Mon 16th Mar 2009

Local Liberal Democrats are urging local MPs Norman Baker and Nicholas Soames to be in Parliament on March 20th to give their support to a new parliamentary bill that will help cut energy bills for the poorest families and across the country could help save the lives of up to 20,000 pensioners a year.

The Bill would deliver a massive home insulation programme which would halve the energy needed to heat the average home. And it would end the scandal of those who use pre-pay meters - generally the least well-off - paying higher rates for their gas and electricity than other householders.

Serena Tierney Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson for Mid Sussex, said:

"Energy bills have nearly doubled in recent years and many local families and pensioners are struggling to heat their homes. The reduction on interest rates is drastically reducing the income of many pensioners who have saved for their retirement.

"It may surprise you to know that even here in Mid Sussex nearly one in six households (14.7%) - over 5,500 - are now living in fuel poverty because the Labour Government refuses to tackle it. It is horrific that in this day and age so many people are having to make the difficult choice between heating and eating."

"The energy efficiency proposals in the bill will also help save local people money and cut the emissions that cause climate change."

Norman Baker, confirming that he intends to be there to support the second reading, said: "All MPs, Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative MPs have a moral duty to join this campaign and vote for this bill. We simply cannot let a situation continue where people are dying because they cannot afford to heat their homes."

The Fuel Poverty Bill being proposed by Liberal Democrat MP David Heath is being

backed by leading charities including Age Concern, Friends of the Earth and the Child Poverty Action Group.

The bill is scheduled for second reading debate in the House of Commons on Friday

March 20th. It is vital that as many MPs as possible are in Parliament to support it. If less than 100 MPs turn up, it could be blocked undemocratically.