UK mulling fuel poverty voucher

The government is considering a voucher scheme to help the poorest people pay their gas and electricity bills, the BBC has learned.

Treasury ministers raised the idea in a meeting with executives from some of the biggest UK energy firms on Monday.

Energy firms have been criticised by consumer groups and unions for raising gas and power prices at a time when they are seeing their profits increase.

More than four million people in the UK are fuel poor – spending more than 10% of their income on energy bills.

An industry executive criticised the possible plan, saying a scheme that relied on vouchers was a “soup kitchen solution” that would not help those that most needed it.

BBC