Farron gives backing to 'Warm Homes Bill'

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron has pledged to be in Parliament tomorrow to give his support to a new parliamentary bill aimed at ending fuel poverty.

Mr Farron said:

"This winter, millions of people across Britain are struggling to afford to heat their homes, including four out of five single pensioners.

"The Fuel Poverty Bill being proposed by Liberal Democrat MP David Heath would deliver a massive home insulation programme which would halve the energy needed to heat the average home. And it would end the scandal of those who use pre-pay meters - generally the least well-off - paying higher rates for their gas and electricity.

"The Bill has the enthusiastic support of organisations who represent the vulnerable, from Age Concern to Disability Alliance to the Child Poverty Action Group. And because it would also cut harmful carbon emissions it also has the strong backing of environmental campaigners like Friends of the Earth.

"The bill is scheduled for second reading debate in the House of Commons tomorrow. It is important that as many MPs as possible are in Parliament to support it. Not many MPs are likely to actually oppose it, but it needs 100 supportive MPs in Parliament on that day to ensure it cannot be blocked undemocratically.

"That is why I have cleared my diary to enable me to be in Parliament on March 20th to vote for the bill and help ensure it passes its first hurdle."