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28 • Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com SF The Champion • Wednesday 9 January 2013Keep in touch with the local news and viewson our websitewww.champnews.comMP in blast atnew Energy BillPositively the Best Buyer of Houses, Landand Investment Properties in LiverpoolINSTANT DECISION■ Established 26 years■ No Fees ■ Free Valuation■ Repossession Stopped■ Clear you house and retirewith a lump sumPUT CASH IN YOUR BANK TODAYINSTANT CASH OFFER1115578by David RavenSEFTON Central Labour MPBill Esterson said the newEnergy Bill gives no power toParliament to break energycompanies’ stranglehold onthe British consumer.MPs discussed theintroduction of the bill inParliament but Mr Estersonsaid the Energy Bill failed totackle the problem of soaringgas and electricity bills.He said: “At a time whenfamilies are facing record fuelbills and energy companiesare enjoying huge profits, thegovernment needs to step inand support families.“But there is nothing in theEnergy Bill to make theenergy market morecompetitive and transparent.“This government slashedthe budget which helped fuelpoor households with theirbills and they axed the WarmFront scheme which directlyaided families right here inSefton.“The government has failedto ensure that the energycompanies meet theirobligations on energyefficiency.“And the Tories and LibDems have failed to get a gripof, on the one hand the‘...it fails to tackle soaringgas and electricity bills’consumers’ soaring fuel bills,while on the other the energycompanies’ rocketing profits.“That’s the priority, andpeople in my constituencyare struggling to deal withhousehold fuel bills day in,day out.”Announcing the plans,Energy Secretary Ed Daveysaid: “I am determined toensure all consumers get abetter deal on their energybill and get the cheapest tariffthey can.“Bill payers will no longerface the impossible choicebetween hundreds of tariffs;each customer will have amaximum of four tariffs forgas or electricity per supplierto consider.“For too long people havebeen stuck on the wrong typeof energy tariff, paying morethan they need to.“Our new proposals willmake things much clearerand easier to understand, sothat bill payers can get thebest deal and feel the benefitin their pockets.”But Mr Esterson said hisparty was making plans totackle the energy companieshead on. He said: “I’vespoken to people in SeftonCentral who are having tomake the decision of whetherto heat or eat. That’s not howpeople should be living in2012 and 2013. But that’s afact of life for far too manypeople.“Labour is prepared tostand up to powerful vestedinterests in the energyindustry. Our plans wouldprovide real help now, aswell as reform the way ourenergy market works for thelong–term.“We would force the energycompanies to pool the powerthey generate and make itavailable to any retailer, in anattempt to open the marketand put downward pressureon prices.“And we would requireenergy companies to put allover–75s on their cheapesttariff, which could save asmany as four–millionpensioners as much as £200 ayear from their annualenergy bills. We needdecisive action taken now totackle the very real problemof fuel poverty.”1115526