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Monday, 03 March 2008 18:50

British considering fuel poverty

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The British government is considering a voucher scheme to tackle fuel poverty in light of increasing energy costs, reports BBC News Online.

According to the report the government is concerned that rising energy costs are having a negative effect on poorer households. The report also notes that alongside sharp increases in energy costs

suppliers have been enjoying record profits: British Gas, which supplies both natural gas and electricity, revealed an increase in profits to GBP571 million shortly after increasing gas and electricity bills by fifteen per cent.

Energy providers including British Gas and E.On have been meeting government ministers ahead of next week's budget.

Trade union Unite - which also operates in Ireland and was formed by the merger of Amicus and the Transport and General Workers' Union - claims as many as 4.5 million people in Britain experience fuel poverty.

Last modified on Monday, 03 March 2008 18:58
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Jason Walsh

Jason Walsh is Ireland correspondent of the Boston-based Christian Science Monitor newspaper and has contributed to other publications including the Irish Examiner, the Irish Times, the Guardian, the Independent, the Sunday Times, the Washington Times, El Mundo, PressEurop and USA Today.