City's Pensioners take their winter fuel fury to Westminster

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 22nd Oct 2008

Sharon Bowles MEP

Bassett and Swaythling MP Sandra Gidley has welcomed Southampton's Pensioner's Forum to Westminster today, where she was joined by Labour MPs John Denham and Alan Whitehead, to hear about the plight of the city's elderly - many of whom will struggle to afford to heat their homes this winter.

Commenting after the meeting, Sandra said:

"Fuel bills, water rates, council tax and even food and other basics are all increasing way beyond the pitiful rises in the basic state pension and pension credit.

"As a result, too many of the city's pensioners will face tough choices this winter. Yet all they have asked for is real action on pensioner poverty, but nothing ever seems to happen."

The meeting came days after the former 'Energywatch' Chief Executive Allan Asher told the BBC's 'File On 4' that annual heating bills of around £1,200 could be cut by a third or more.

"The energy companies are extorting money from some of the most vulnerable members of our society - this cannot continue" said Sandra.

"That's why I will be pressing the government to introduce tougher market reforms and greater regulation of the energy companies.

"We also need action to increase energy efficiency in our homes. This would stem the tide of rising bills and ensure that even the poorest pensioners in Southampton can keep their houses warm this winter.

"Rest assured that I will do all I can to fight for the pensioners in Southampton and to ensure that they don't have to face a choice between heating and eating this winter."