Nick Clegg challenges Brown over rising energy prices

10.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 10th Jan 2008

Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats

Nick Clegg has used his first Prime Minister's questions as Liberal Democrat leader to urge Gordon Brown to press gas and electricity companies to "end the scandal of the poorest families paying the most for their energy needs". Mr Clegg warned that an estimated 25,000 people were predicted to die from the cold this winter. He said "countless British families face fuel bills of £1,000 or more for the first time" this year. This follows figures published by the Liberal Democrats which show recent price rises in gas and electricity have completely wiped out the value of the Winter Fuel Payment, highlighting that on average the cost of energy bills in a typical household for a pensioner aged over 75 has risen by £350.

Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson Steve Webb said "Elderly and disabled people are hardest hit by the fuel price hikes, which more than wipe out the value of the Winter Fuel Payment. The Government must do far more to combat fuel poverty. The top priority must be to end the scandal where pensioners are paying a fortune to heat draughty houses where a lot of the heat is simply wasted. This is a waste of scarce cash and also makes no sense for the environment. The Government needs to get its act together and make sure that Britain's pensioners don't have to make a choice between heating and eating on cold winter days."