Welsh Government slammed over energy efficiency rollout that 'could take 135 years'
Welsh Government investment in its Warm Homes programme is nowhere near what is required to tackle fuel poverty, according to a Senedd committee. Improving the energy efficiency of all fuel-poor households in Wales would take well over a century at the current rate, the equality and social justice committee inquiry has heard.
While energy costs have risen to unprecedented levels, real-terms spending on the Warm Homes programme has remained broadly flat since 2021. The initiative includes schemes to install insulation and low-carbon heating solutions like solar panels.
In its report, 'Turning up the Heat', the committee calls for the Welsh Government to commit to ensuring any extra funding that becomes available goes towards tackling fuel poverty. Its chairwoman Jenny Rathbone, a Labour MS, said: 'The cost of energy from fossil fuels keep rising, which makes the need to tackle fuel poverty imperative. Frustratingly, this has not been reflected in the Welsh Government's efforts, leaving a devastating impact on those who can least afford it.
READ MORE: Woman drowned in sea after getting bad news
READ MORE: Police issue update after five-year-old boy on scooter goes missing
"Instead we've seen a pattern of delays and missed deadlines. It is hard to disagree with the experts: the level of investment in the Warm Homes programme is nowhere near what is required to match the scale of the challenge of ending fuel poverty.'
Written evidence to the committee highlighted the Welsh Government's expectation that roughly 11,500 homes would receive adaptations over a seven-year period. At that pace, work to reach all fuel poor households in Wales would not be completed before the year 2160.
The report recommends the Welsh Government commits to investing any additional funding — including any underspends or Barnet consequential arising from UK Government funding towards tackling fuel poverty in England — in the Warm Homes programme. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
MP calls for ‘chronic under-supply' of Gypsy and Traveller sites to be addressed
A Labour MP has called on the Government to address the 'chronic under-supply' of Gypsy and Traveller sites across England. Mary Kelly Foy said planning decisions on these sites 'have frequently been underpinned by prejudice', with just 30 created over the past 30 years. The MP for City of Durham tabled an amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill which proposes that Gypsy and Traveller sites are included in spatial development strategies. Speaking in the Commons, she said: 'Today I rise to speak to amendment 134, in my name, that works towards addressing a long-standing and deeply entrenched failure in our planning system, the chronic under-supply of Gypsy and Traveller sites across England. 'And my amendment seeks to increase fairness into the system to enable, rather than hinder, the provision of adequate, culturally appropriate accommodation for Gypsy and Traveller communities. 'For too long, the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers have been overlooked by the planning system.' She added: 'The Government has committed to delivering 1.5 million new homes by 2029, if that ambition is to be truly inclusive, it must include everyone, and that means by making space, literally and politically, for communities who have been moved on, fenced off and forgotten.' Ms Foy said just 30 sites have been created over the past 30 years, adding: 'Decisions on Gypsy and Traveller sites have frequently been underpinned by prejudice, whether overt or institutional. 'Too often, proposed developments are blocked or delayed by local opposition that's not met with political will or leadership. 'Site delivery also suffers from a lack of inclusion at the strategic planning level, where Gypsy and Traveller site provision can be absent from local plans and excluded from land allocations. And this absence isn't an accident, it's a result of years of structural marginalisation that this Bill must now correct.' Ms Foy said the UK is 'seeing a troubling trend' with the number of socially rented pitches declining. She argued that leaving out Gypsy and Traveller sites from future strategies would be 'repeating mistakes of the past'.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
The five considerable problems with the chancellor's U-turn on winter fuel payments
There are considerable problems with the winter fuel payment U-turn, but perhaps the political argument in favour outweighs them all? First, Rachel Reeves has executed without working out how to pay for it. This, for an iron chancellor, is a wound that opponents won't let her forget. A summer of speculation about tax rises is not a summer anyone looks forward to. Politics latest: Second, the fig leaf that she and Treasury ministers are using is an improvement in economic conditions. If you were being polite, you'd say this is contested. The OBR halved growth this year and the OECD downgraded UK forecasts, albeit only by a little, last week. The claim that interest rates are coming down ignores that their descent is slower because of government decisions of the last six months. Third, the question immediately becomes, what next? Why not personal independent payments (PIP) and the two-child benefit cap? At this stage, it would feel like a climbdown if they did not back down over those. But then, what will the markets - already policing this closely - make of it, and could they punish the government? Fourth, this is aggravating divisions in the Parliamentary Labour Party: the soft left Compass group and ministers like Torsten Bell pushing bigger spending arguments. Those MPs in Tory-facing seats who rely on arguments that Labour can be trusted with the public finances are this has created a firm division between No 10 (the PM) and No 11 (the Chancellor). No 10 is now conscious that it does not have enough independent advice about the market reaction to economic policies and is seeking to correct. Others, I am told, are just critical of the chancellor's U-turn - for she wobbled first. Read more: Given the litany of arguments against, why has it happened? Because the hope is this maxi U-turn lances the boil, removes a significant source of pensioners' anger and brings back Labour voters, a price they calculate worth paying, whatever the fiscal cost. We wait to see who is right.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Temporary congestion charge considered for city
Car drivers could be forced to pay a £5 temporary congestion charge to access a city centre. Oxfordshire County Council said it was considering setting up a two-year scheme in Oxford from the autumn. It said action was needed due to traffic issues caused by the long-term closure of Botley Road for works. However, Oxford City Council leader Susan Brown said the proposal would "allow people who can afford to do so to buy access to our streets". Paying the £5 charge, which would only apply to cars, would allow drivers to go through the six charge locations until the end of the day. Permits would be available for carers, traders, blue badge holders and those commuting to or living in a central area of the city. The county council said action was needed because of delays to a planned trial of traffic filters, which cannot be introduced until Botley Road is reopened. The route is currently shut because of overrunning works at Oxford Station and the railway bridge, which are now not due to finish until August next year. The charging points for the congestion zone would be in the same places as the planned traffic filters: Hythe Bridge Street St Cross Road St Clement's Street Thames Street Marston Ferry Road Hollow Way Andrew Gant, in charge of transport for the Liberal Democrat-run county council, said: "We urgently need to see improvements to travel around the city, better bus services and less traffic overall, to help people get around. "We must take action for our residents, businesses and visitors while Botley Road remains closed." However, Oxford City Council said there has been no previous consultation on the plan. Labour leader Susan Brown said: "Yet again the city is being done to rather than engaged with in preparing transport proposals. "We need a full review of transport policies with a view to tackling congestion in our city. This is something a Greater Oxford Council would do." Campaign group Cyclox welcomed the proposals, saying Oxford's congestion had "reached crisis point". "We can't leave things as they are; if nothing is done the city will grind to a halt under the weight of car traffic," it said. "We cannot build more roads to magic congestion away." Previously Oxford Bus Group warned that congestion was at "emergency levels". The proposals will be discussed by the council's cabinet on 17 June and, if approved, a six-week public consultation would start later this month. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. City traffic filters postponed by Botley Road delay Call for city's traffic filter plans to be scrapped Council urged for 'Plan B' to tackle congestion Oxfordshire County Council
