This morning I went running around Westminster before work. It was so mild I was forced to abandon my jumper. But this unseasonal weather will not last long. As the winter temperatures drop, our household energy costs look set to increase and although we want to reach our climate goals as soon as possible, we must look at all possible measures to help ordinary working families.
We saw during the pandemic that the Government was swift to respond and I am pleased it is preparing itself to do so again. But its important we take the time to consider the best way of doing things. The opposition wants to cut VAT on gas and electricity bills – which we can now do having left the European Union. On the face of things, this sounds great – but this move would save £5 on a £100 utilities bill – which would make a very little dent in the rising cost of living, especially for those on the lowest incomes who need more help than a few quid off.
And where would this leave us in Brecon and Radnorshire? Almost two thirds of the constituency live off the gas grid. Nowhere in the Labour and Liberal Democrat plan is there a thought for rural areas and how much more expensive our bills are. The Government in Cardiff has some responsibility to bear; if we had proper public transport, and more affordable housing, our household bills would come down. If the Welsh Government put its shoulder into more affordable rural housing, we could have better insulated homes for our young people to live in.
I will be urging the Government to be as innovative as possible. Coming out of a pandemic, we need to have all options on the table to free up the squeezed household budget.
