The Rising Cost of Living

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government – in the Senedd at 2:10 pm on 30 November 2022.

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Photo of Jack Sargeant Jack Sargeant Labour 2:10, 30 November 2022

Can I thank the Minister for that answer? And as you've stated, it's clear that finances are under real pressure. Services will be stretched in every direction possible, but the need to react to growing levels of poverty will be extremely tough. Who would have thought it, just even a year ago—one year ago—that we would be talking about warm banks being delivered by local councils across Wales, in every single one of our communities across Wales and the United Kingdom? Minister, amongst other things, the very existence of pre-pay meters will drive the demand for these warm banks. People are being switched to pre-pay meters and driven further into poverty. Perversely, they ensure that those least able to pay pay more for their energy, and they are only in the interests of the energy company profits and debt collection. Minister, this really is life and death in a cold winter. Do you agree with me that there should be an immediate moratorium on their installation, and that the UK Government should send a strong message to these energy suppliers about the very dangers of people being de facto disconnected every time they run out of credit?