THE SDLP’s Sinéad McLaughlin has published the party’s updated Cost of Living Action Plan.
This was originally published in November last year, but not approved by the Stormont Executive.
An updated version has now published by Ms McLaughlin, recognising changes in circumstances over the last three months – including even higher energy prices and the subsequent publication of the Department for the Economy’s energy strategy, as called for in the original action plan.
Said the Foyle MLA: “It is imperative that all Executive ministers take the action they can, even after the DUP’s First Minister walked away from his responsibilities.
“We must see greater action from those ministers still in their role. In particular, this falls to the communities minister, who has still not published an updated Fuel Poverty Strategy and must provide greater support to families in need.
“We also need to see the communities and health ministers work together to find ways to support families with disabled children who need higher levels of home heating.
“The economy minister must prepare legislation to reform the role of the Utility Regulator, to cap the profit of energy companies and promote the use of zero carbon heating, in place of his current and outdated role of promoting the use of gas.
“While the DUP has created a crisis by walking away from the First Minister role, this is no reason for other ministers to fail to act.
“SDLP infrastructure minister Nichola Mallon has shown decisive leadership in freezing public transport fares.
“Other ministers must step up to their responsibilities.”
The updated Cost of Living Action Plan includes:
The Department for Communities should extend the Winter Fuel Payment to all households in receipt of Universal Credit and legacy benefits.
The Department for Communities and Department of Health must devise a system to support families that include children with disabilities to assist them in coping with escalating energy costs.
A Warm Homes Discount Scheme should be introduced – copying that in GB.
The Utility Regulator should require electricity and gas supply companies to provide at least two months’ notice for price increase and limit the number of price increases to just two a year.
The economy minister must prepare legislation to reform the remit of the Utility Regulator, promoting zero carbon energy sources and ceasing to promote the gas sector.
A ceiling should be placed on the profits of energy companies.
The Department for Communities must urgently publish an updated Fuel Poverty Strategy.
The Department for Communities must focus spending from its Affordable Warmth Scheme on home insulation, reducing both the cost of home heating and carbon emissions.
The Department for Communities should conduct research to enable it to expand energy efficiency schemes for Housing Executive tenants.
The Executive Office should launch a publicity campaign to advise households on how to cut the cost of home heating, drawing on the resources from the NI Energy Advice Service, the Consumer Council, the NI Sustainable Energy Programme and the Affordable Warmth Scheme.
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