SOCIAL TARIFFS

That this House notes with concern that fuel poverty in the UK has returned to the four million household level as a direct result of sustained high energy prices; also notes that there is considerably more work to be done if the Government is to meet its targets to eradicate fuel poverty among vulnerable households by 2010 and among all households by 2016; believes that social tariffs have a key role to play in helping the fuel poor heat their homes to a comfortable and safe level; observes that there has consistently been wide variation in suppliers' voluntary efforts to help low-income households; further observes with concern that low-income households using prepayment meters continue to pay on average £127 more a year for their gas and electricity than those paying by direct debit and that this gap has increased by up to 70 per cent. in the last two years; and calls for the Energy Bill to be used to include powers that enable the Secretary of State to require suppliers to offer social tariffs in accordance with minimum standards providing households on low incomes with access to best value tariffs regardless of how they pay for their energy.