Roger Williams MP backs 'Warm Homes' Bill

12.30.37pm GMT Mon 23rd Mar 2009

Brecon and Radnorshire MP Roger Williams has pledged to be in Parliament on March 20th to give his support to a new parliamentary bill aimed at ending fuel poverty and that could save the lives of up to 20,000 pensioners a year.

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

Roger Williams said:

"This winter, millions of people across Britain are struggling to afford to heat their homes, including four out of five single pensioners. Twenty thousand pensioners are dying a year because the Labour Government refuses to tackle fuel poverty. It is horrific that in this day and age so many people have to make the difficult choice between heating and eating.

"This is real action from the Liberal Democrats to help people struggling to heat their homes. I'm proud that Liberal Democrats are leading the way on this issue. 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 Bill will help address the issue of those people who do not have the benefit of mains gas and I will endeavour to make a contribution during the passage of the Bill to bring their situation to the attention of Ministers and other Members of Parliament."

Notes:

The Bill has the enthusiastic support of organisations that represent the vulnerable, from Age Concern to Disability Alliance to the Child Poverty Action Group.

The attached photo was taken outside Parliament today and shows Roger Williams supporting the end fuel poverty campaign.