Oldham area MPs must back 'Warm Homes' Bill says Alcock

11.25.00pm GMT Thu 12th Mar 2009

The Houses of Parliament were the bill will be heard

Local Liberal Democrats are urging local MPs Michael Meacher, Phil Woolas and David Heyes to be in Parliament on March 20th to give their support to a new parliamentary bill that will help cut energy bills for the poorest families and could help save the lives of up to 20,000 pensioners a year.

The bill also calls for a massive programme to make homes more energy efficient - saving resident's money and protecting the environment.

Oldham West & Royton Parliamentary spokesperson Mark Alcock, said: "Energy bills have nearly doubled in recent years and many local families and pensioners are struggling to heat their homes."

"Twenty thousand pensioners are dying a year because the Labour Government refuses to tackle fuel poverty. It is horrific that in this day and age so many people are having to make the difficult choice between heating and eating."

"The energy efficiency proposals in the bill will also help save residents money and cut the emissions that cause climate change."

"I urge our local MPs to be there on the 20th March. Labour and Conservative MPs have a moral duty to join this campaign and vote for this bill. We simply cannot let a situation continue where people are dying because they cannot afford to heat their homes."

The Fuel Poverty Bill being proposed by Liberal Democrat MP David Heath is being enthusiastically backed by leading charities including Age Concern, Friends of the Earth and the Child Poverty Action Group.

It would deliver a massive home insulation programme which would halve the energy needed to heat the average home. And it would end the scandal of those who use pre-pay meters - generally the least well-off - paying higher rates for their gas and electricity.

The bill is scheduled for second reading debate in the House of Commons on Friday March 20th. It is vital that as many MPs as possible are in Parliament to support it. If less than 100 MPs turn up, it could be blocked undemocratically.