Leading Bosworth Liberal Democrat backs plan to tackle fuel poverty

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 1st Aug 2008

Bosworth Liberal Democrat Chairman Cllr Stuart Bray has backed a new action-plan to tackle fuel poverty.

Cllr Bray is backing new Liberal Democrat plans published by leader Nick Clegg in the document "Tackling Fuel Poverty". The document sets out measures designed to help people struggling from rising energy costs.

Cllr Bray said "The energy firms received a multi-billion-pound windfall thanks to the giveaway of free permits to emit Carbon Dioxide under the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme. Previous estimates have put the proceeds of that windfall at £9bn, although a recent letter to Nick Clegg from Ofgem estimates the true figure could be even higher.

"Here in Hinckley and Bosworth there are many people, particulary pensioners and families on low-incomes who are struggling to pay ever-increasing fuel bills. Energy companies should be forced to use some of the money from the £9bn European windfall to help protect some of the most vulnerable people from the effects of fuel poverty."

The Proposals in Tackling Fuel Poverty include:

· Making energy companies invest £500m a year into a rolling programme to make sure homes are properly insulated

· Requiring energy companies to roll out social tariffs to over two million vulnerable customers this would reduce fuel bills for some of the poorest customers.

· Installing smart meters in homes, which display real time consumption costs