Windfall tax to address fuel poverty
scourge
2 October 2008
Commenting on the figures out today from the Department of the
Environment, which showed that between 2005 and 2006, the number of
households classified as fuel poor jumped by one million to
3.5million, Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite said:
"When Government's own report acknowledges that millions more
households have been pushed into fuel poverty as a direct result of
increases in consumer energy prices, then it is time to stop
talking to these companies about lagging the lofts and start making
them do their duty by those in desperate need.
"If anything, these figures are a major underestimation of the
true numbers who will be fuel poor this winter - it could be as
many as five million homes that will face the inhumane choice of
whether to heat or eat this year
"We need more direct action to address this scourge. The energy
and oil companies ballooned their profits by passing on massive
price hikes to consumers. Now they need to do what is right and
moral and provide financial assistance to vulnerable consumers this
winter. If they will not do this of their own volition, then our
Government must make them.
"A windfall tax to put £250 into the pockets of the suffering
public, plus a rolling back of prices and a cap to stop future
rises is the only way to ensure our old, frail and vulnerable are
keep warm this winter." Unite is collecting cases of people
struggling to pay their fuel bills this year. This information will
be used as part of Unite's campaign to secure fuel justice for
millions of households across the UK.
ENDS
For further information contact Pauline Doyle on 07976 832
861
