SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE CONSTITUENTS IN WINTER WEATHER

That this House recognises that the severe cold weather conditions have made it a difficult winter for constituents across the country, on top of challenging economic circumstances; notes that in the longer term, improving the energy efficiency of Britain's housing stock will better insulate people from the impact of cold weather; supports the inclusion in the Energy Bill of an Energy Company Obligation to ensure that poorer and more vulnerable constituents can gain access to free energy efficiency measures; urges in the shorter term that the Government remains focused on supporting vulnerable, elderly and poor constituents to stay warm and help meet their fuel bills; further urges energy companies to provide additional support for their most vulnerable customers, recognising the announcement from British Gas to provide 340,000 of its most vulnerable customers with a 50 rebate and 20 million of support to the British Gas Energy Trust that gives grants to customers who struggle to pay their bills; and strongly urges all energy companies to follow suit.