THE Welsh Liberal Democrats have called on Labour to do more to tackle
fuel poverty in Wales following the release of annual fuel poverty
estimates.
The data released by the Welsh Government today shows that fuel poverty
had risen in Wales during 2021, before the largest price hikes even came
into effect in 2022.
The figures show 14% of all households in Wales were living in fuel
poverty by the end of 2021, up from 12% in 2018. It also showed 3% of
homes were living in severe fuel poverty and 11% of homes were at risk
of falling into fuel poverty.
The data showed that those living in the private rental sector (22%) and
in rural areas (17%) were more likely to be living in fuel poverty.
Estimates from the Welsh Government in April stated that up to 45% of
Welsh homes could be in fuel poverty by the end of 2022.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have stated that while the Conservatives in
Westminster were responsible for not taking action on energy profits
with a strong windfall tax, Labour had left Wales vulnerable to price
shocks by not investing enough in insulation programmes or in improving
poor housing stock.
Previous research by the Liberal Democrats has shown that Labour’s
current insulation programme could take 135 years to complete and the
party has called for a £1.75 billion scheme to accelerate home
insulation which they say would create 10,000 full-time equivalent jobs
across Wales over 15 years and generate around £2.2bn for the Welsh
economy in addition to reducing the £67 million per year spent by the
Welsh NHS on conditions caused by poor housing.
The party has also called on the Welsh Government to publish fuel
poverty reports twice a year, including with a breakdown by local
authorities. Currently, the data is only published sporadically every
few years.
Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader and Mid & West Wales Senedd
Member Jane Dodds said:
“The report tells us what we already knew, that the Welsh Government
aren’t taking home insulation seriously enough.
“If the numbers of people in fuel poverty rose even before the latest
price increases this year came into effect I dread to think what they
are now, especially in rural regions like my own with a large number of
homes off-grid.
“The Conservatives may have failed to act on the profits of energy
giants, but Labour has left Welsh households vulnerable to price shocks
like these.
“Our plans for an accelerated home insulation programme would not only
help decrease those in fuel poverty, but also help save the planet and
contribute to economic growth.
“Energy prices are only going to get higher, Labour needs to act now
and not continue to kick the can down the road.”
