Government Filibuster Blocks Fuel Poverty Bill (Aberdeen South & North Kincardine Liberal Democrats)

Aberdeen South & North Kincardine Liberal Democrats <info@aberdeensouthlibdems.org.uk>

Government Filibuster Blocks Fuel Poverty Bill

March 25, 2009 11:17 AM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

MP Michael Moore has expressed his dismay at the Government's filibuster which prevented the passage of the Fuel Poverty Bill, which was promoted in the House of Commons by his colleague David Heath MP.

The Bill aimed to tackle the scandal of vulnerable people living in 'fuel poverty' by halving the energy needed to heat the average home through a home insulation programme and ending the scandal of those who use pre-pay meters - generally the least well-off - paying higher rates for their gas and electricity.

Commenting on the Government's filibuster which prevented progress on the Bill, Mr Moore, who spoke in the debate in support of the Bill, said:

"It is a scandal that in the 21st century many elderly people are forced to choose between paying to heat their homes or to buy food.

"This was an important Bill, which would have gone a long way to protect the vulnerable, particularly in rural areas, from the scourge of fuel poverty.

"The Bill was backed by a broad range of groups and the Government's decision to oppose the Bill, was as illogical as it was callous."

Notes:

1. Mr Moore spoke during the debate and raised the importance of 'social tariffs' which would require energy suppliers to provide eligible customers at a lower prices than any other rate available from that particular supplier. A full transcript of the debate and Mr Moore's intervention can be found using the following link. http://pubs1.tso.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090320/debtext/90320-0002.htm

2. A household is said to be in fuel poverty if it needs to spend more than 10% of its income on fuel to maintain a satisfactory heating regime (usually 21 degrees for the main living area, and 18 degrees for other occupied rooms).

3. The second reading of the Fuel Poverty Bill took place on Friday 20 March. The government opposed it, and were able to 'talk it out' using their allotted speaking slot at the end of the debate. The Liberal Democrats attempted to stop the Minister from being able to do this by using a 'closure motion' to bring the debate to a conclusion. However the closure motion required 100 MPs to support it and only 91 MPs were present to support the Bill. Those present to support the Bill (89 who voted for closure plus two tellers) were 45 Lib Dems (71% of all Lib Dem MPs); 25 Labour (7% of total); 20 Tories (10% of total) and 0 SNP. A list of the MPs who turned up to support the Bill can be found at http://tinyurl.com/11short