FUEL POVERTY BILL BID FAILS

A cross-party bid to end fuel poverty by promoting energy efficiency and social tariffs for the less well off has failed in the Commons.

Spearheading the move, Liberal Democrat, David Heath (Somerton and Frome) said: "Support for this Bill is a no-brainer."

However, despite backing from organisations ranging from Help the Aged to Friends of the Earth, his Fuel Poverty Bill ran out of time.

Mr Heath said: "This Bill is good for those living in poverty, good for the health of the nation; very good for the environment and - at a time when it is desperately needed - it's good for the economy."

Co-sponsored by Labour and Tory backbenchers, the Bill would bring about a major energy efficiency programme and force energy suppliers to provide cut price tariffs for less well off households.

It also requires the Government to produce a strategy to eliminate fuel poverty by 2016 but allows the Secretary of State to decide on what measures are used.

Mr Heath said it was a 'national disgrace' that up to five million households were in fuel poverty in the UK and his Bill could provide a 'huge stimulus' for the energy efficiency business just when it was needed during the economic downturn.

But junior energy minister, Joan Ruddock said it was already Government policy to tackle fuel poverty and criticised the 'absolutist' nature of the Bill, saying this could not be acceptable to any government.

The Bill placed an 'absolute duty' on ministers irrespective of cost. The Government's commitment to meet a 2016 target for ending fuel poverty "as far as reasonably practicable" remained in place, she said.

After four hours, a bid to end the debate and move to a vote on second reading failed by just 11 votes. The minister was still speaking when time ran out at 2.30pm and the Bill now stands no chance of progressing.