Plaid Cymru has called for careful scrutiny during the creation of a revised Fuel Poverty Strategy by the Welsh Government.
Following the recent spell of cold weather, and set against a backdrop of rising fuel prices, some pensioners have struggled to afford to heat their homes this winter.
Figures released this week reveal there were 2,500 excess deaths in Wales during the winter 2008/09. The Welsh Government has pledged to working towards eradicating, as far as practicable, fuel poverty from all households by 2018.
South Wales Central AM Chris Franks said:
“Winter can be a very difficult time for pensioners, particularly during such a prolonged cold period as we are having now. Rising fuel prices only exacerbate the problems for the elderly living on the breadline. The London Labour government needs to act urgently and introduce the measures that Plaid is proposing, such as a cut in VAT on fuel.
“It cannot be right that the pensioners, cancer patients and other vulnerable people living Welsh communities are dying because they can’t afford to heat their homes properly. No-one living in 21st century Wales should have to choose between heating and eating.
“There should be a temporary cut in VAT on home heating funded by a windfall tax on energy companies and at the same time the UK Government should implement a windfall tax on the profits of the energy companies, which would fund a help package for those who have been affected by fuel poverty.”
Fellow Plaid AM, Leanne Wood added:
“No one should be living in fuel poverty when the large utility companies are collecting huge profits every year. Over the last few years, Centrica, which owns British Gas, has collected billions in profits.
“Many people will get help to make their homes more energy efficient but any savings they make could be wiped out by the rising price of gas and electricity, meaning they will still struggle to make ends meet. I think it is vital that energy companies do more to reduce the bills for those in fuel poverty.”
