---

AMENDMENT OF THE LAW

In relation to poverty more widely, will the Chairman of the Select Committee also examine the Government’s handling of fuel poverty, which has increased? The Government placed far too much reliance on cheap energy during a period when prices fell because the UK had a temporary surplus of supply, and now that prices are rising, more people are being pushed into fuel poverty. Will his Committee examine Ofgem’s advice that the Chancellor should consider whether he can make a one-off gain on the profits made by energy companies as a result of the issue of emissions trading licences, so as to fund a one-off investment in improving people’s housing, so that they can reduce their fuel bills?