Lifeline to help the vulnerable

MORE than 11,000 people in fuel poverty and thousands of victims of domestic violence across Oldham were offered a lifeline last night after Government put them at the heart of its legislative programme.

Many will benefit from Government plans to force energy companies to offer cheaper tariffs for the most needy. And men who pose a threat to their partner can be barred form their homes for up to two weeks.

Fuel poverty affects 11,356 families across Oldham. At present, the Big Six energy companies subsidise bills of the poor and elderly paying a high proportion of their income on gas and electricity under a system of voluntary “social tariffs”.

But under plans announced yesterday in the Queen’s speech it would become mandatory.
It is thought customers could be given a rebate on their bills.

MPs have been lobbying for the change and a review into the Big Six — British Gas, E.ON, EDF Energy, Npower, Scottish & Southern and Scottish Power amid fears they were failing to pass on reduction in costs to their customers.

Oldham West and Royton MP Michael Meacher said: “This is a worrying matter and we have to act.

“This will really help families in Oldham, no one should be made to choose between heating home and eating.”

Further measures to protect domestic violence victims were also announced. In 2008, there were 64,156 incident reported to Greater Manchester Police. Domestic Violence Protection Orders will allow police to bar perpetrators of domestic violence from their homes for up to a fortnight.

The DVPO will be used when police believe releasing the perpetrator may put the victim at further risk of abuse and to give the victim more time to consider their options.

Mr Meacher added: “The figures are absolutely astonishing — this is a great initiative.

“We do not want state intervention on private household matters, but this is very different.

“It is clear by the scale of domestic violence that intervention is wholly justified, it is also important in terms of women’s rights.”

The speech set out 13 bills and two draft bills.

They included temporary workers to get the same rights as permanent staff from 2011, ending child poverty by 2020, the introduction of mandatory assessment of parenting needs when 10 to 15-year-olds are considered for an ASBO, and narrowing the gap between rich and poor and halving Government debt within four years.