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Motion · S6M-05730 · 22 Aug 2022

Immediate Emergency Action Needed from UK Government on Energy Costs

Lodged by Alex Rowley Standard Motion 49 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament calls on the UK Government to take action to freeze energy bills immediately as a matter of national emergency; understands that the energy price cap is reportedly forecast to nearly double in October 2022, rising from £1,971 to around £3,600, and then again to over £5,000 in January 2023, with some further forecasts reportedly showing potential rises to £6,000 in April 2023, representing a nearly five-fold increase in energy prices in the space of a year; is deeply concerned by reports showing that 13 million people will be pushed into debt if the price cap increases to the £3,600 figure in October 2022; believes that it is inevitable that many more people will be pushed into poverty by potential further rises in January and April 2023; considers that almost one million Scottish households will be trapped in extreme fuel poverty by January 2023, meaning that over one in three Scots households (38.8%), will be by hit with the highest rates of fuel poverty, where more than 20% of a household's net income is spent on energy costs; is concerned by reports from Citizens Advice Scotland who, it understands, have said that soaring energy bills are driving “frightening” demand for their advice services around utilities and food insecurity; is troubled by research into household finances in the UK reportedly showing that the UK’s poorest 10% of households will see their real incomes fall by 17.3%, meaning that the burden of the cost of living crisis, it believes, will be felt sharpest by those that have the lowest incomes; understands that polling has indicated that two-thirds of voters support COVID-style support to help households with the cost of living crisis; believes that politicians describing measures as “handouts” is not helpful to those facing an emergency situation, and calls on all politicians across Scotland to unite and call on the UK Government to take immediate and necessary emergency action to address what it sees as one of the worst cost of living crises in living memory.  

Supporters (49)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.