- Media & Campaigns
- Press releases
- 2008
- August 2008
- Town halls respond to Government housing proposals
- LGA response to LABGI decisions
- Council leaders lobby cabinet ministers for levy on energy suppliers
- New survey shows overwhelming support for changes to electoral register
- Criminal gangs threat to British institution
- Britain's future Olympians promised a boost from town halls
- Businesses must do more to reduce waste
- Rank actions of bogus cabs prompt councils to act
- Councils to join LGA climate change campaign
- Making savings from the bottom up
- Town halls warn that Britain is becoming the 'obesity capital of the world'
- People left exposed by lap-dance legislation
- Councils issue safety warnings as trampoline injuries jump
- Death of Sandy Bruce-Lockhart mourned by politicians from all parties
- Grate drain robbery could kill – council leaders warn
- Planning Bill loophole "will silence local people"
- It's bangers and cash as number of dumped cars plummets
- Councils taking tough stance on underage knife sales
- Councils slam ‘shocking lack of consultation’ on new bail accommodation
- Recycling rates rise
- Modern day Del Boys force call for law change
Council leaders lobby cabinet ministers for levy on energy suppliers
LGA press release - 26 August 2008
An annual charge should be levied on energy suppliers to fund a national home insulation programme to fight fuel poverty and combat climate change, council leaders have argued in a joint letter to six cabinet ministers.
In their letter, the leaders of the Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independent groups at the Local Government Association have argued the move would lift 500,000 people out of fuel poverty, cut £200 off the energy bills of 10 million households and reduce domestic carbon emissions by 20 per cent.
The leaders have written to Chancellor Alistair Darling, Communities and Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn, Business Secretary John Hutton, Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell and Housing Minister Caroline Flint.
As pressure increases on the government to consider a one-off windfall tax on energy suppliers, the LGA is arguing for a long-term solution to fuel poverty and climate change.
Cllr Paul Bettison, Chairman of the LGA Environment Board, said:
“One-off payments to deal with rising energy bills will be of help to many households but will do little to tackle the root causes of fuel poverty. A national home insulation programme would be the best long-term solution to this challenge and that of cutting carbon emissions.
“There are 10 million homes in this country that still lack basic insulation. Making these properties more energy efficient would take around £2 billion off fuel bills each and every year and also reduce domestic carbon emissions by a fifth.
“Energy suppliers are making eye-watering profits at the expense of hard working families. The government should seize the opportunity to take a long-term solution to current problems by using these disproportionate excesses to pay for a massive drive to insulate people’s homes.”
You can show your support for the LGA's home insulation proposals by joining our Facebook group - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=27830072465
Author: LGA Media Office
Contact: Matt Nicholls, 0207 664 3333
See also
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Cut carbon, end fuel poverty and slash household bills - Facebook group The LGA is campaigning for a national home insulation scheme that would lift 500,000 people out of fuel poverty, knock £200 a year off the energy bills of 10 million households and cut domestic carbon emissions by 20 per cent.
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Small Change, Big Difference campaign The LGA's climate change campaign will encourage the sector to do more, seek greater powers for councils and aim to influence public opinion and behaviour.
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Climate change and energy Climate change is the biggest long-term threat to our prosperity and well-being - managing the threat requires a radical decarbonisation of the global economy, and significant technological change away from the use of fossil fuels. This is not only about large-scale action at international and national levels, but local and individual action too.