SNP accuses Tories of blocking bill to stop people from having power cut off

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The SNP has accused the UK Government of blocking a Bill to prevent people from being cut off from power.Glasgow North East MP Anne McLaughlin has twice brought a Private Member's Bill to the House of Commons that would ban disconnecting households from gas or electricity.

But on both occasions it has been rejected at the second reading stage by the Government. The Bill would also give those on prepayment meters a grace period to resolve debts and receive proper support before losing access to their energy.

These are the same rights as those who pay by direct debit enjoy now. McLaughlin is also chair of the newly formed All-Party Parliamentary Group on Prepayment Meters.

She said that the blocking of the Bill means continued "untold misery" for millions of members of the public.Findings from the Office for National Statistics released earlier this week found that the cost of living crisis is also having a profound impact on mental health.Forty-one per cent of respondents who use prepayment meters for energy bills are more likely to report experiencing moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms.Last month it was revealed that over a quarter of Scots on prepayment smart meters had been disconnected from power between July and September last year.Alba MP Kenny MacAskill called on the Government to reduce tariffs for those on prepayment meters, as they often tend to be more expensive than direct debits.McLaughlin's Bill will be put forward for a second reading again on 3 March.