‘One of the greatest failures of government is that people make daily choices between heating and eating’

Heat or eat?

HOW we respond to the longest lasting recession since records began and the sort of support structures we put in place to deal with the human cost of the recession in terms of welfare support – these will be the overriding domestic issues over the term of this Parliament, and it is an area where I hope to be able to contribute to in this House following my time working for the Citizens Advice Service in Wales.

I’d like to say a few words about the man I replace, Adam Price. After less than a decade in front line politics, he has already established himself as one of the greatest figures in the history of the national movement, and one of the most significant political figures of our time in Wales. When he returns form his studies in the USA, his destiny is clear – and that is to serve our people in our own Parliament in Cardiff – and to lead our people to our political freedom. Adam will be remembered for unearthing the Mittal scandal, and for leading the opposition in this House to the invasion of Iraq.   However, the issues which were most important to him were those that affected local people. He was a champion fighting for compensation for miners suffering from terrible respiratory disease, and secured a pension compensation fund for steel workers that had seen their life savings disappear. Wales can ill afford to lose politicians of the stature of Adam, and I hope he returns from the US ready to continue his work on behalf of our people and our communities.

I’d like to talk briefly about an issue that is very close to my heart – fuel poverty. In a modern country it is a disgrace that over a quarter of all Welsh households live in fuel poverty. It is one of the greatest failures of government that people in Wales and across the UK continue to have to make daily choices between heating and eating. In the last year alone, average heating bills have increased by 33% – leaving people on fixed incomes terribly exposed – with energy prices in Wales higher than anywhere else in the UK.

We need action at international, UK, Welsh and local Government level if we are serious about eradicating the blight of fuel poverty from our communities.

• International oil prices need to be stabilised to avoid price fluctuations.   This could mean a long term agreement between oil producer and consumer countries as advocated by the French Government; and arguably the use of a more stable trading currency
• The UK Government needs to raise incomes and ensure that available benefits and tax credits are claimed by those entitled to them.   This package should include the extension of the winter fuel payments to all vulnerable groups.
• Secondly, energy efficiency measures should be targeted at the fuel poor primarily
• Thirdly, greater regulation of the energy market and in particular a mandatory social tariff for the fuel poor so that they are removed from a competitive market that simply doesn’t work
• The Welsh Government needs to make sure that Wales gets its fair share of the UK Governments energy efficiency schemes
• Secondly create a package of support and advice for people living in fuel poverty
• It also needs to promote off grid decentralised local energy systems backed up with smart metering so communities can develop their own solutions to the twin challenges of global warming and energy poverty
• I would also like to see a statutory duty on Welsh Local Authorities which could include the retro fitting of vulnerable homes with the latest air to heat technology.

I have little doubt that the social justice agenda and the growth of Welsh political democracy and sovereignty are intertwined.   During my time here in this place, I look forward to working with those across the political divide who believe in building a modern, just and prosperous Wales.

- This is an excerpt of Jonathan Edwards MP’s Parliamentary maiden speech.