The STUC

STUC Assistant Secretary Stephen Boyd has expressed disappointment at a mediocre package of heavily targeted measures on fuel bills, which will leave many on low incomes continuing to struggle as energy companies maintain excessive profits.

Commenting on the Prime Minister’s announcement of new measures aimed at cutting fuel bills, Stephen Boyd, STUC Assistant Secretary said:

“This package of measures is disappointing. It is not immediately clear exactly how much is being contributed by the energy companies and in what timescale. A windfall tax at least has the merit of being a transparent funding mechanism.

“Whilst the Prime Minister has a point in arguing that investment should be prioritised on measures which will make a permanent difference, there is no reason whatsoever that windfall tax receipts could not have been spent in this way rather in one-off support payments. However a combination of the two would have been desirable given the immediacy of the problems facing hard pressed families.

“However, neither the measures announced today nor a more ambitious approach using windfall tax receipts would tackle the structural problems that have allowed companies to generate massive profits while fuel poverty increases exponentially. Nothing less than a complete rethink of the competitive market and a radical overhaul of industry regulator Ofgem is required”.

• For further information please contact Stephen Boyd - 07976 978 355