05/09/2008

PM Rules Out Fuel Payments

The Prime Minister's decision to rule out cash handouts to households struggling with rising fuel bills has been strongly criticised by trade unionists.

Gordon Brown was expected to announce that each household would receive up to £100 to help with energy costs after speaking with power companies.

However, Mr Brown insisted there would be no "short-term gimmicks or giveaways", in his speech on energy policy to Scottish CBI.

Left-leaning pressure group Compass said the decision was a disappointment and are also not seeking "short-term gimmicks or giveaways" either and instead want "firm steps towards making every home in Britain more energy efficient, thus reducing bills not just temporarily, but permanently".

"Because you cannot address a long term problem - the supply and demand for oil - with a short term gimmick like a fuel duty stabiliser," a spokesman said.

He added: "At the heart of our approach must be a revolution in the way we think about and use resources; reducing our dependence on oil and by creating a low carbon economy achieving both greater security of energy supply and greater efficiency of energy use."

(CD)

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