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Northern Ireland consumers miss out on £1bn aid
Thursday, 11 September 2008
Hard-pressed Northern Ireland consumers will miss out on a £1bn package to help households cope with rocketing fuel bills, the government confirmed today.
It comes as households and businesses face crippling energy costs this winter after an announcement yesterday that electricity was going up by over 30% and gas by nearly 20%.
Energy bills are already higher than the rest of the UK with latest figures showing annual bills of more £1,200, a conservative estimate based on research before a series of price hikes.
Despite the need for extra support for struggling householders in the province, Gordon Brown’s measures, outlined at his Westminster briefing this morning, will only apply to England, Wales and Scotland.
Proposals include giving all homes in Great Britain discounts on loft and wall insulation and other energy-saving home improvements, such as new boilers, double glazing and lightbulbs, with the most vulnerable getting the work free.
It is expected to shave up to £275 from an average family's bill and cold weather payments will also be made to struggling households.
The news comes as members of the Assembly’s Enterprise, Trade and Industry committee were expected to grill Utility Regulator Iain Osborne at Stormont today after he claimed yesterday’s shock hikes in electricity were “justified”.
Executive Junior Minister Jeffrey Donaldson, DUP MP, said: “We expect to be given the same support from the Treasury as Scotland, England and Wales. Gordon Brown is coming to Belfast on Tuesday and this will be the hot topic for discussion.
“There is no reason for Northern Ireland not to be given parity of support from Westminster as the rest of the UK, particularly in light of the big increase in gas and electricity bills announced here.”
NIE’s hefty 33.3% tariff rise, following a 14% increase in July, will mean the annual domestic bill will soar from £439 to £585. Similarly, the 19.2% hike for Phoenix Natural Gas households comes on the back of a 28% increase just four months ago and will see the average annual bill rise from £577 to £689. Both increases come into effect on October 1.
Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said he was “very disappointed” the Prime Minister’s fuel poverty plan excludes Northern Ireland.
“If Mr Brown is coming to Belfast next week, instead of wasting our time talking about policing and justice we should be talking about these increased everyday costs and what we’re going to do about it,” he said.
“Something needs to be done urgently. We’re talking life and death here.”
Sir Reg — who yesterday called for the establishment of a sub-committee on the cost of living — said the Executive’s failure to meet represented a “dereliction of duty” in these difficult times.
“Sinn Fein should lift this embargo,” he said.
“Policing and justice is irrelevant to what people are suffering at the moment. We need to talk to the Prime Minister about how people are going to survive the winter.
“People are not focused on the Assembly talking about getting more powers when we can’t implement the powers we’ve already got.
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Infrastructure should not be in the hands of private companies. Natioanlise the water, electricity, gas and transport industries now.
Posted by mags | 11.09.08, 22:38 GMT
And what about the people who don't own their
own homes but have to rent because of the high price of houses, the high cost of mortgages etc. Do we deserve to freeze?
Posted by David | 11.09.08, 22:04 GMT
think its about time us pensioners had a wee bit of heat and a few comforts.
Posted by seana | 11.09.08, 21:50 GMT
Why don't our Politicians open up the Energy Supply Markets to competition similar to what has been done in England? The best way to control prices is to shop around for the best deals; which is what most people do elsewhere in the U.K. Surely the time is long overdue to end the present monopoly arrangement. Its time for all Politicians to act together to control the excessive profits and salaries of Chief Executives.
Posted by John McDowell | 11.09.08, 18:16 GMT
Surely a 33.3% uplift on a now 114% NIE tariff is now 152% from original 100% NIE tariff!!
Can the 5% vat tariff on domestic fuel( electric/gas/oil/coal) not be removed for all of the UK.
I hope the voting public take note of how their "tribal" MLAs address the pan-NI fuel crisis @ the next elections!
Posted by PC | 11.09.08, 16:05 GMT
Nationalism and unionism (which is what the whole policing powers thing boils down to) are the politics of the past. I certainly care more about the economy than either, and I don't think I'm alone. I long for the day that political parties catch up with the rest of us and start dealing with real issues.
Posted by Bon | 11.09.08, 15:52 GMT
It's clear to see that this is a ploy to get the Assembly talking again. Brown's not that slow!
Posted by TB | 11.09.08, 15:26 GMT
Wonder if Gordy will use this as a bargaining chip to help our weak, childish politicians along with their decision making.
"You guys come to an agreement about devolution of policing and justice and you can have a nice big bite of this cake. Then you can go back to your constituents looking like heroes and smelling of roses"
Posted by Chris | 11.09.08, 15:17 GMT
"Instead of wasting our time talking about policing and justice we should be talking about these increased everyday costs and what we are going to do about" Sir Reg Empey.
Am I missing something here?? Talking about policing and justice is not a waste of anyones time. Yes, Northern Ireland missing out on the package is not justified, and yes, Mr Brown should be made to stand up and explain the decision, however policing and justice remains a vital point and must also be addressed. Or are our politicians not capable of handling more than one issue at once?
Posted by BG | 11.09.08, 15:16 GMT
This to me seems like a BIGGER issue than devolving of policing and justice powers (not that this isn't important but we have a long time ahead of us to deal with this). The credit crunch is affecting Northern Ireland citizens NOW and I really wish our elected politicians would focus on issues such as this and leave the sqabbling over the Maze etc to a later date!
Posted by AM | 11.09.08, 14:25 GMT
Gordon Brown is a joke and I think it is time he gave up his role as Prime Minister. He is only out to make more money for the "Government".
Why are people in Northern Ireland not allowed any help with rising costs, we are no different or better off than those on the mainland. At least they get paid more money than we do!!!!
Posted by Karen | 11.09.08, 13:39 GMT