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GMB Reaction To Centrica Gas Price Rise
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Date: 17 February 2006
Gary Smith, GMB National Officer for the energy industry said, “This price rise will cause widespread hardship. The Government will also need to look at benefit levels and look to increase the National Minimum Wage to ensure that people can afford to heat their houses and cook their food. Energy prices generally will feed into wage demands in the very near future. The price increases will start hitting British competitiveness and will start to impact on jobs.
GMB has repeatedly warned that leaving energy policy to market forces alone would have disastrous consequences. Trying to shift the blame on to the fact that European countries have not moved to an open market for energy is total nonsense. (See note 1)
GMB redoubles its call for the Government itself to take over the regulations of the energy industry and be accountable to Parliament for this role. Energy regulation is too important to the well being of the nation to be left to a Quango.”
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Contact: Gary Smith, GMB National Officer on 07961 538820 or GMB Press Office: Steve Pryle on 07921 289880 or Rose Conroy on 07974 251823.
Notes to Editors: GMB has no problem with cooperation across Europe. Liberalising of the energy sector in Britain has led to a potential crisis in production and the supply of energy. It seems ludicrous to suggest that European governments should embrace the British model at the very time its weakness is being exposed. It may be convenient to blame other countries for soaring energy prices when our own industry is in a mess. Britainneeds a balanced energy policy under democratic control focused on the nation’s needs and not short term gains for big energy.
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