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All Party Parliamentary Group on Debt and Personal Finance |
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With regret, the Group wishes to express our deep sorrow following the passing of our colleague and friend David Taylor MP on Boxing Day. David was a regular attendee at Group meetings and made valuable remarks at many of our debates and discussions. His commitment to and support of our work reflected his conscientious contribution across the House of Commons. David will be sorely missed by us and we offer his family our heartfelt condolences.
About the GroupThe All Party Parliamentary Group on Debt and Personal Finance was established in 2003 to provide a forum for MPs and peers to discuss debt and personal finance issues, to monitor legislative developments in this area, and to provide an opportunity for liaison between Members and organisations with an interest in these issues. The Group is chaired by Mark Lazarowicz MP and the other officers include: Andrew Tyrie MP, Colin Breed MP, Mike Weir MP and David Drew MP. Recent meetings have covered issues including: bank charges, fuel poverty and energy debt, financial education, pension reform and illegal money lending. Group news
In October 2009, Citizens Advice Director of Public Policy, Teresa Perchard, met with David Kidney MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, (pictured right) to discuss Fuel Poverty. This meeting came after the Debt and Personal Finance All Party Parliamentary Group held a round table discussion on the issue. This was third year in succession that the Debt and Personal Finance APPG have held an event on this important issue. In 2007, the Group launched a joint report on tackling fuel poverty with the Poverty APPG and, last year, held a round table event with a host of major contributors to the fuel poverty debate, including then newly appointed chair of the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group, Derek Lickorish. Since the year 2000, the Government states it has spent £20 billion tackling fuel poverty on a range of activities aimed at three factors – fuel costs, household income and household energy efficiency. The Government has pledged to eradicate fuel poverty in vulnerable households in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by 2010. In addition, the Government pledged to eradicate all other fuel poverty by 2016, and 2018 for Wales. However, the progress in reducing the number of people in fuel poverty has been challenged by the impact of rising energy prices, as well as the broader effects of the recession. Figures from 2006 indicate that there were approximately 3.5 million households in fuel poverty across the UK, including 2.75 million vulnerable households. Figures for 2007 are expected to be available soon.
Group eventsThere are no events planned until after the General Election.
Further details about the Group |
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