Desperate MPs say desperate things

It is of no surprise to me - sadly - that the local MP has again taken to promoting the fear factor in the run-up to Christmas. In a Press Release he put out recently, he implied we sought to cut the fuel allowance to pensioners.

Mr Rammell claimed that the Conservatives oppose the extra Winter Fuel Payments announced in this year's budget of £100 for pensioners aged over 80 and £50 for those aged over 60s.

But the MPs scaremongering is unjustified.

The facts are these:

The next Conservative Government will re-link the state pension to earnings and we have made clear that we will keep the Winter Fuel Allowance that is valued by so many in Harlow.

Government figures show fuel poverty is up 64 per cent on what it was in 2007.

Pensioners and other families are more vulnerable to high fuel bills during this cold snap than they have been for years.

Conservatives have a comprehensive plan to reduce fuel poverty. With high home energy prices, Harlow's poorest people face their toughest winter for years. Without immediate help, many will face going into debt to stay warm.

Conservatives will introduce a new entitlement through its Green Deal for every home to be fitted immediately with up to £6,500 of approved energy efficiency improvements, with the costs being repaid through the very much greater savings made, thus delivering immediate reductions in energy bills.

We will require energy companies to provide information on energy bills that shows customers clearly whether they are on the cheapest tariff offered by that company - and if they are not, shows them exactly how much they would save if they switched to the cheapest tariff, and how they can do so.

We will expand the role of the Post Office Card Account (basic cash accounts run by the DWP for receipt of welfare, pension and tax credit deposits), so it could be used by pensioners to make direct debit payments on utility bills. This could cut the energy bills of up to four million POCA holders by up to £100 a year.

And we will require complete transparency in the energy market so that when energy prices fall in the world market they fall for customers too.

P.S. The latest figures show, that under this Government, in 2006 (last figures available) there were 2.567 households in fuel poverty in Harlow.

P.P.S. Councillor Tony Hall, Chairman of the Council Environment Committee, reminds me:

"Under the Conservatives Harlow Council is working to combat fuel poverty by insulating all Council homes and offering through the Herts&Essex Energy Partnership (HEEP) free or discounted insulation (loft and wall cavity) to home owners. The charge for those who do not qualify for the free service is £99 for each. Search under HEEP on the internet."

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