A Press Release from Alba Party.
AS ENERGY ACTION SCOTLAND WARN “MANY LIVES WILL BE LOST”
AND NATIONAL ENERGY ACTION PREDICT DOUBLING OF ENERGY COSTS
The leading organisations campaigning for an end to fuel poverty in the UK, Energy Action Scotland and National Energy Action are backing the Cold Climate Allowance Bill being introduced by Neale Hanvey MP in the House of Commons tomorrow (Tuesday 14 December). Energy Action Scotland warn that “many lives will be lost and unnecessary pressure placed on the NHS”. National Energy Action who work in England, Wales and Northern Ireland estimate that the likely increase to gas bills in April could mean the cost of heating the average home will have doubled over the last 18 months.
The Bill proposes an additional monetary payment for eligible people across the UK, in receipt of the state pension and other social security benefits, for 17 weeks during the Winter from December to March.
The proposed allowances are based on paying 10%, 20% or 30% (depending on location) of the annual equivalent service charge for fuel and associated costs in Housing Benefit, as follows: Zone 4 (£41.34); Zone 3 (£27.56); Zone 2 (£13.78); and Zone 1 (No payment).
The Bill is UK wide in its remit and has cross party support from eight parties and one independent in the House of Commons. The Cold Climate Allowance would be in addition to the existing Cold Weather Payments which are triggered during cold weather snaps
In a statement Mr Neale Hanvey MP said:
“At a time when people are facing a huge hike in their energy costs my Bill offers direct practical support to older and vulnerable people such as pensioners, disabled people and people on the lowest and fixed incomes, many of whom face the unenviable choice of feeding their families or heating their homes this Winter.
“The Cold Climate Allowance would be an additional monetary payment paid for 17 weeks between December and March. By dividing the UK into four climatic zones it would pay the highest rate to those people experiencing the severest weather conditions and the highest heating costs in the UK. If you lived in Glasgow you would receive a higher rate than in Manchester and if you lived in Aberdeen a higher rate still. The point is that the colder the climate and the more severe the weather the higher the amount you would receive”.
Frazer Scott, Chief Executive Officer, Energy Action Scotland said:
“Energy Action Scotland welcomes the proposed bill and the support it offers to vulnerable older people and people on the lowest incomes. Far too many people are facing a cold, cold winter, unable to afford to heat their homes to the levels that support their health and wellbeing.
“This winter looks set to be a time of incredible hardship for low income, vulnerable households. Energy prices are incredibly high and are set to increase substantially in April 2022. We expect high prices to be sustained for some time to come. As a result of this, poor levels of energy efficiency in homes and falling incomes, many lives will be lost and unnecessary pressure placed on the NHS. Over 2,000 more lives are lost in the winter months than in summer affected by living in cold damp hard to heat homes.
“Households, particularly in off gas areas face some of the highest energy costs anywhere in the UK. Households in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles of Scotland endure the highest rates of fuel poverty and this bill would provide those households with welcome additional support. Energy Action Scotland believes that more must be done to amplify support when extreme weather impacts on already financially stressed households. People should never feel compelled to self-disconnect or ration their energy supply.
“The bill is consistent with the continuing concern we have that there is insufficient financial support available to people who need it most. Energy Action Scotland appreciates the motivation to address these inequalities the strength of which is reflected in broad cross party support for this bill.”
In a statement National Energy Action said:
“National Energy Action (NEA) works across England, Wales and Northern Ireland – and with our sister organisation Energy Action Scotland (EAS) – to ensure that everyone in the UK can afford to live in a warm home. NEA supports the aims of this Bill and welcomes the wider recognition amongst its sponsors and supporters that vulnerable households need additional support to help them afford a warm home.
“The cost of living is at its highest level in a decade with household energy bills being the principal driver. NEA estimates that average domestic energy bills have soared by over £230 per customer compared to last winter. This leaves 4.5 million households across the UK now struggling to heat and power their homes. Many are sinking further into debt. Others are forced to ration their energy use or turn off the heating altogether, leaving them at acute risk of serious ill-health or even premature death. Unfortunately, many experts predict energy bills will soar again this coming April, possibly by as much as £550 for the average dual fuel bill. According to our own estimates, the likely increase to gas bills in April could mean the cost of heating the average home will have doubled in the last 18 months.
“There is more the UK Government can do to mitigate the impacts and help more people keep warm and safe in their homes. We hope the Bill is successful or, at the very least, it prompts the UK Government to come forward with their own proposals to help more vulnerable households afford a warm home”.
Neale Hanvey leading the way for Scottish, English, Welsh and N.I. Governments to follow. A real politician.
Few would disagree with the bill’s intent, though I’m not sure of the rationale in this case behind proposing something that even the proposer knows, with a Tory majority in Westminster, has no chance of being passed.
This bill is about as likely to be passed as a bill enabling Scotland’s exit from the UK union alliance. Noo thair’s a thocht! At least with an enabling bill on Scotland’s UK exit we would then see which if any SNP MPs actually support Scotland’s independence. Such a bill would also demonstrate to Scots who exactly is holding Scotland in the UK union, even if it did not get as far as a HoC debate. It would further highlight to Scots the serious intent of ALBA MPs to deliver independence and it would serve to put an infinite political distance between them and the daeless SNP MPs in the run-up to the next General (plebiscite on independence) Election
So Neale, Kenny, Alex – how about drafting an enabling bill on Scotland’s UK exit?
Hi Alf Baird, I too would support the drafting of this enabling bill for presentation to the people of Scotland for consultation on behalf of Alba – Yes indeed, this should all be a part of the planning that we, Scotland, are doing the now, in anticipation of Aye.
By having an #indyscotvote2024 in the diary and trending now… people will remember this and when the flag goes up later on at the end of 2023 (IF we ever get there!) if not before then, well then?
Seconded and cheers.
How can Scotland create enough green energy to power 2 Scotland’s but be paying significantly more in bills year on year ,why are we paying higher electricity costs ?. The energy is the cheapest to generate !. Global market does not affect the cost of renewables,nothing is being imported. Privatised electricty companies and UK government making the consumer subsidise nuclear power plants in England. Prince John economy Tory economics,UK ok.
The colonial reality always reflects and is primarily about plunder and exploitation of ‘a people’, where a territories immense assets and resources are extracted on the cheap by the colonial power, and then sold on for higher prices – including sales back to the native population, as we see with high-priced electricity (and other goods, oil and gas, whisky etc). The function of the internal-colonial territory is primarily to service the needs of the ‘core nation’ (i.e. England). A renewable energy-rich independent Scotland with potentially massive export sales (of clean energy) could probably afford to have electricity prices close to zero, also making the country globally competitive for any number of other energy-intensive industries that could be developed within Scotland. This explains how Scotland’s national development is being constrained by colonialism as well as higher factor costs, and how it could prosper under independence.
Knowledgeable advisors like Alf Baird are difficult to find. The Alba Party are fortunate that he sides with them. I only hope the boys take his advice!
At least Neale is TRYING to do something about fuel poverty , Sturgeon and her tartan taliban tories are doing NOTHING , SHE even booted a Scottish Energy Company PROMISE out the door in flagrant disregard of the snp membership and the wider public who thought it a great idea
I CANNOT get round the FACT that Scotland has oil and gas in abundance and massive natural energy potential and yet we have these parasitical hyena energy companies FORCING massive hikes on their customers because THEY SAY they are having to purchase the energy at a much higher cost
Questions , who are they paying these increased costs too , what is causing these costs to soar , who sets the tarrifs for these increased costs , how much profit is in those increased costs , if we are told capitalism and the free market is the answer to everything why are the energy companies not getting together to work out a fair price and to FORCE these unamed producers to lower the prices