Government energy "sticking plaster" isn't enough for families in South Lakeland, says Farron

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 11th Sep 2008

MP Tim Farron has described plans announced today by the Government to help people in South Lakeland with rising gas and electricity bills as a criminally inadequate response to fuel poverty.

The Government has agreed a £910m package of measures, with energy companies to fund existing energy saving schemes and a new community based programme aimed at carbon reduction measures.

Mr Farron has called on the Government to "get tough" with leading energy companies after it was unclear whether they were going to pay for all of the package.

Commenting Mr Farron said:

"The Government's proposal is a sensible solution; however it is a criminally inadequate response to the fuel poverty affecting families in South Lakeland."

"Without any doubt, the effect on vulnerable families in South Lakeland will be completely dwarfed by the increase in energy prices."

"Today's announcement should not hide from the fact that energy companies have given only a tiny fraction of their vast profits to the package. The Government needs to get tough with energy companies and force them to give more of their profits to tackling fuel poverty".

"Energy companies are holding the vulnerable and elderly to ransom and it's time the Government offered more than a sticking plaster as a solution".