A national campaign calling on greater government action to help keep people Warm This Winter has received the backing of a Lanarkshire MP.
East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow's Dr Lisa Cameron is calling on the UK Government to provide more emergency support for those struggling with energy bills this winter and a coherent plan to move the UK away from volatile fossil fuels, through a national rollout of home insulation and affordable renewables.
It echoes call from the Warm This Winter coalition supported by leading anti-poverty and environmental organisations.
In order to support people across the UK in the immediate and long term, the campaign group is calling a number of actions.
This includes the Westminster government providing a new package of financial support to people who, without additional urgent action, will be on the front line of poverty this winter and committing in law to the development of a new social tariff for next winter, through an amendment to the Energy Bill.
The social tariff would better target energy need than cash payments, and therefore should be additional to the price cap, current protections, and the benefits uprating, and be funded out of general taxation.
Ms Cameron told Lanarkshire Live: "I met recently with the Warm this Winter campaign supporting more targeted support to those most vulnerable in our communities faced with the cost of living crisis.
"Further to this, I am organising specialist surgeries for those needing extra support at this time regarding heating bills and the cost of living crisis.
"Please contact me directly if you need any further assistance and an appointment on these important matters”.
The campaign are calling on the UK Government to provide an urgent investment of £3.6bn in home insulation measures this Parliament, to kick-start a national insulation programme for every home - starting with those hardest-hit by the crisis.
And Warm this Winter are also calling on the UK Government to more than triple the amount of wind and solar by 2030, ensuring it is located in harmony with nature, and a commitment in law (through the Energy Bill) to a 95 per cent zero carbon power sector by 2030.
Finally, they are calling on the UK government to stop opening up new oil and gas fields, including new licensing rounds, and stop subsidising new drilling with public money.
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