Rising Living Costs

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:20 pm on 11 January 2022.

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Photo of Jane Dodds Jane Dodds Liberal Democrat 2:20, 11 January 2022

Seven out of the 20 areas across the United Kingdom hardest hit by rising fuel prices are in Wales, so I just want to follow on from the point from my colleague Joyce Watson. Prices are set to rise by an average of £598 a year, with some seeing bill increases as high as £750. Four of those seven areas are in the region that both Joyce and I represent, namely Ceredigion, Powys, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.

This is a dire situation for families and households who are already struggling to keep their heads above water. If, as predicted, the price cap increases, we could see the overall number of households in fuel poverty in Wales increase by 50 per cent or more. Between the price cap increasing and the Conservatives hiking national insurance contributions, and their freeze to the personal tax allowance, families could be facing an extra £1,200 in bills in the next year. Prif Weinidog, would you agree with me that in order to save families from what is becoming a cost of living catastrophe, as you have said, the United Kingdom Government should be instituting a Robin Hood tax on oil and gas superprofits to support families with soaring heating bills? Diolch.