Child poverty charity deplores British Gas fuel price hike

Commenting on plans by British Gas to raise the price of gas by 35% and electricity by 9%, Kate Green chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group said

"These staggering energy price hikes risk hitting the poorest families hardest. At a time when the cost of living is rising this is bad news for families and will cause further fuel poverty.

"We urge British Gas to rethink how these price rises will affect low income families, to improve the protections it is proposing for a small number of vulnerable families and widen these for those suffering hardship. Energy suppliers have a responsibility to those receiving their services – not just to their shareholders".

Notes for editors

• Child Poverty Action Group publishes the Fuel Rights Handbook 14th edition (price £17). See http://www.cpag.org.uk/publications/
• CPAG is the leading charity campaigning for the abolition of child poverty in the UK and for a better deal for low-income families and children.
• CPAG is one of over 100 member organisations of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, campaigning for public and political commitment to ensure the goals of halving child poverty by 2010 and ending child poverty by 2020 are met.

For further information please contact:
Paul Dornan
CPAG Head of Policy
Tel. 07816 909302
pdornan@cpag.org.uk