Make hay while the sun shines - Michael German warns on fuel poverty

12.51.15pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 12th Jun 2006

Welsh Lib Dems aim to eradicate fuel poverty in Wales by the end of the decade

After Wales's hottest weekend of the year, Welsh Liberal Democrats are warning that up to 200,000 families in Wales could be in fuel poverty when winter comes around.

Official Assembly Figures show that 130,000 families were in fuel poverty in 2004. The government estimates that figure will be 160,000 in 05. At the current rate of growth, and given the high rises in oil and gas prices, the figure could be as high as 200,000 this winter.

Mike German, Assembly leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said: "Wales may be basking in a heatwave at the moment, but the rise and rise of fuel prices risks leaving ever increasing numbers of families out in the cold when winter comes.

"In the budget negotiations, Welsh Liberal Democrats and the other opposition parties, were able to provide additional cash for the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES). Extra money that the Labour Assembly Government had no intention of providing.

"The clock is ticking down to yet another broken promise from Labour's 2003 Manifesto. In 2003 their manifesto stated: 'We will do more to help older people stay warm in winter, as we aim to eradicate fuel poverty in Wales by the end of the decade'. Yet here we are, with just three years to go, and the figures are rising."

The HEES is Wales' prime method of tackling fuel poverty. Opposition parties raised the budget to £5m in each of 2006-7 and 2007-8.

"We have to make the best use of that money now. As the old saying goes - we need to make hay while the sun shines, and use it to provide affordable warmth for the homes of the most vulnerable, in particularly the elderly and those without central heating.

"The cost of fuel is rising year on year - average bills are set to breach £1,000. And climate change means our weather seems to be becoming more extreme. Labour's tired administration is set to renege on yet another promise."

Notes:

Fuel poverty occurs when a household needs to spend 10% or more of its income on fuel to maintain satisfactory heating and other energy services. Any household spending 20% or more is deemed to be in severe fuel poverty.