8:50am Tuesday 19th January 2010
By South Wales Argus Newsdesk
A GWENT heating engineer blasted the Assembly after it emerged £4.07 million of Government money may not be used to help people suffering from fuel poverty.
The money, given by the chancellor in his pre-budget report in December, could be used for a boiler scrappage scheme, where the Assembly would give £400 to people towards the cost of a new, more heat-efficient boiler.
A boiler scrappage scheme comes into effect in England in April, where 125,000 households with the lowest G-rated boilers will be offered £400 towards replacing inefficient boilers.
The £4.07 million was given to the Assembly alongside funding for this, but as it is considered a “consequential” amount, AMs are able to vote for using it on any devolved service.
Simon Rogers, 49, who runs AA1 Plumbing and Heating with wife Sarah, said it is essential the money is spent on a boiler scrappage scheme in Wales to re-energise an industry hit hard by the recession.
With boilers costing between £300 and £1,300 each, Mr Rogers has seen his company’s workload cut in half and they are now installing just two a week, having even reduced their installation charges. He says people simply can’t afford to replace old boilers.
Many homes in Wales have G-rated boilers which constantly burn gas, creating higher bills and increased C02 emissions.
Mr Rogers said: “We have a devolved Government, but what are they doing for us?
People over the border are being helped out and this money would be invaluable in helping people become greener, save money and would give an industry that is suffering a huge boost.”
Environment minister Jane Davidson said the Assembly is considering a boiler scrappage scheme.
A spokesman for the Assembly said potentially the money could be used “on anything”.
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