Thursday 15 January 2009

WITNEY LIBERAL DEMOCRATS BACK BILL TO END FUEL POVERTY

Liberal Democrats in Witney have expressed their support for Liberal Democrat MP David Heath's proposal to bring forward a parliamentary bill aimed at ending fuel poverty.

The Fuel Poverty Bill will bring in two measures:
* A major energy efficiency programme to bring existing homes up to the current energy efficiency levels enjoyed by modern homes.
* Social tariffs to limit vulnerable households’ exposure to high-energy bills.

These proposals will be good for the environment whilst also making a real difference to pensioners and others struggling to pay energy bills. It will make a real difference to around five million households faced with the terrible choice between heating and eating this winter.

The bill would also provide a much-needed boost to the local construction industry struggling in the recession. These proposals deserve the support of politicians from all parties.

The measures in the bill have received the backing of many major charities and campaign groups, including Help the Aged, Friends of the Earth, Consumer Focus and the Association for the Conservation of Energy.

GREEN PLANS WILL BOOST JOBS AND HOMES IN WEST OXFORDSHIRE

Liberal Democrats in West Oxfordshire have given their backing to plans for investment in green schemes that will make homes warmer, cut energy bills and improve public transport. The plans, called the 'Green Road out of Recession', were announced in December by Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg MP.

The plans will cost £12.5bn, which would be paid for by scrapping the government's tiny VAT cut. The vast majority of the money could be spent immediately, making a real impact on the economy and people’s lives right away.

Green Road out of the Recession proposals include:

* A five-year programme to insulate every school and hospital, with 20% completed in the first year
* Funding insulation and energy efficiency for a million homes, with a £1,000 subsidy for a million more
* Building 40,000 extra zero-carbon social houses
* Buying 700 new train carriages
* Reopening old railway lines and stations, opening new ones, electrifying the Great Western and Midland mainlines and beginning the Liverpool light rail network
* Installing energy and money saving smart meters in every home within five years

The plans proposed by Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats will give an immediate boost to the economy in Witney and across the country and by insulating people’s homes, it will help thousands of residents whose heating bills have gone through the roof in the past year.

Whilst the Conservatives are quietly dropping serious interest in tackling climate change and damage to the environment, Liberal Democrats believe that moving forward with green action on homes and transport will create jobs, cut energy bills, put money back into people’s pockets and protect the environment.