A Plaid Cymru MS has called the findings of a charity’s report on the scale of poverty in Wales as “shocking.”
Peredur Owen Griffiths, who represents the South Wales East region, was commenting following the publication of Care and Repair’s research report into the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.
The charity found:
- Even with UK and Welsh Government financial support, the average Care & Repair client will be spending on average 19% of their income on utilities.
- From the recent Ofgem price cap announcement on 23/11/2023, the charity expects older people to be around £100 worse off this winter once this cap is in place.
- In a sample of Care & Repair households that accessed their energy advice service, 96% of households were living in fuel poverty.
Peredur said: “This report makes for shocking reading. It is distressing to hear about the abject levels of poverty that exist within our communities.
“Many of the people suffering are elderly people who may well need to heat their homes more than younger people but simply cannot afford it.
“People are in need of urgent help – lives literally depend on more support forthcoming. This is why Plaid Cymru is calling for the government to finally get a grip on soaring energy bills.
“We have urged the Westminster Government to create a social tariff to reduce costs for the poorest and reducing unaffordable standing charges.”
Peredur added: “In the longer term, it is essential that we unlock Wales’ green energy potential through the devolution of the crown estate and the expansion of community energy schemes.
“This way we can retain the wealth in our communities rather than line the pockets of the shareholders of the energy companies that have been fleecing the general public for far too long now.”
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