AM backs campaign to end Fuel Poverty in Wales

Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates has added his support to a new campaign to eradicate fuel poverty in Wales.

The Fuel Poverty Coalition is a new group led by Consumer Focus Wales and NEA Cymru, which has come together to drive forward the fuel poverty agenda in Wales and campaign for fuel poverty to be eradicated. They have developed a Fuel Poverty Charter to inform the development of the forthcoming Welsh Assembly Government Fuel Poverty Strategy for Wales.

Around 320,000 people in Wales are currently living in fuel poverty. The Welsh Assembly Government has admitted that it will not reach its first target to eradicate fuel poverty amongst vulnerable groups by 2010.

Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat AM Mick Bates said: “People are considered to be fuel poor if they spend more than 10% of their income on heating their home, which is a situation that affects one in four households in Wales.

“I’m backing the fuel poverty charter, because it’s a disgrace that so many people in Wales are spending so much of their money on heating their homes.

"Fuel poverty is not a new issue, it affects so many people year on year with devastating effects, so it is unacceptable that the Welsh Government will fail to reach its 2010 target.

“I know from talking to constituents the huge impact that a cold home can have on a person’s health and quality of life. I want to work with the organisations that have come together to produce this charter so that together we can wipe out fuel poverty in Wales.”

The Fuel Poverty Charter calls for:

1. A detailed action plan setting out how and when fuel poverty will be eradicated in Wales;
2. Support for all fuel poor households to stay warm – until fuel poverty is eradicated;
3. A co-ordinated and united approach across the statutory sector (at UK and Wales level) that involves partners from the private, voluntary and community sectors in Wales.

Photograph: Mick Bates AM with Liz Withers from the Fuel Poverty Coalition Cymru.