Wednesday 30th March 2016

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 2:01 pm

Workless households have fewer children, on average, and %age falling. Today's ONS stats.

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 2:06 pm

HindleA wrote:Workless households have fewer children, on average, and %age falling. Today's ONS stats.

Percentage falling? See, IDS was right, his plan is working! Praise the Lord.

tinybgoat · Post by **tinybgoat** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 2:17 pm

HindleA wrote:http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016 ... are_btn_tw

Disability activist Doug Paulley: ‘I’m tackling injustice’

He has even
sued the court service over access issues that have arisen when he has attended court for a hearing – including misinformation about the provision of accessible parking spaces, the failure to provide a working accessible toilet, and the lack of a hearing loop in court – reaching out-of-court settlements in two cases, and winning a third.

yay, although (maybe unsuprisingly) for this

.. he was awarded £600 compensation for injury to his feelings, the lowest level possible.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 2:18 pm

Blimey - I go away to do some work and you all go bonkers with bakery puns ....

Anyway. Angela Eagle playing a blinder on WATO. I particularly liked her retort to Kearney when being repeatedly asked what her precise plans were for saving steel and how much it would cost ... 'We are not the government' - 'we are the opposition and my job is to hold the government to account over their plans'. Kearney shut up. Eagle went on to talk about the need for a proper long term manufacturing strategy which would have helped counter and make decisions about a situation such as the Tata one. She is going to shine at this.

Contrast that with the withdrawal of Alun Cairns from his interview with WATO ... no explanation given - Kearney just said the Welsh Secretary was booked to come on to speak for the government but had pulled out.

tinybgoat · Post by **tinybgoat** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 2:22 pm

StephenDolan wrote:
HindleA wrote:Workless households have fewer children, on average, and %age falling. Today's ONS stats.
Percentage falling? See, IDS was right, his plan is working! Praise the Lord.

Umm, does this mean they're having fewer children,
or something more sinister?

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 2:38 pm

Faisal Islam ‏@faisalislam 23m23 minutes ago
How Tata in India has successfully won trade protections against Chinese steel - and who is blocking who: EU or UK? http://news.sky.com/story/1669533/under ... key-points" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

Good summary. Sajid Javid and the UK government don't come out of it looking good ... seem to have been on the wrong side of just about every measure that might have helped protect UK steel.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 2:42 pm

LabourList ‏@LabourList 27m27 minutes ago
Welsh Labour slams Plaid Cymru’s “fantasy” plan for First Minister job-share http://labli.st/1VTbyTp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sorry - but this sounds completely bonkers ... if this is really what Plaid has suggested - foommmph (I can't write the noise I want to make).

... Predictions put Welsh Labour on course to lose two Assembly Members (AMs), leaving the party three short of an overall majority. With the Lib Dems set to make further losses and being reduced to a rump, Labour may need to rely on Plaid votes in the Senedd to pass legislation.

Now reports suggest that in potential coalition negotiations, Plaid could push for a deal that would see their leader Wood become First Minister for the first half of the five year Assembly term, followed by a Labour FM for the remainder of the term. If it happened, it would be the first time in the 17 years since the Welsh Assembly was created that the position would not be held by Labour.

But a spokesperson for Welsh Labour dismissed the proposal as “a total fantasy, dreamed up by a party giving up on democracy”. They added that “voters won’t look kindly on the nationalists trying to fix their way to power, instead of trying to win the election fair and square.”

Privately, party sources are equally dismissive of the idea, with one describing it as “b*******”.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 2:46 pm

Its the sort of thing that one can imagine Wood believes is a "clever" plan

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 2:48 pm

http://michaelrosenblog.blogspot.co.uk/ ... using.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Painful satire.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 2:56 pm

tom_watson ‏@tom_watson 2m2 minutes ago
Petition by @jeremycorbyn and @UKLabour to call for a parliamentary recall over the steel crisis.Please sign and RT. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/126128" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 2:58 pm

Long read, but worthwhile.

"BRIBERY SCANDAL FUELS GLOBAL INSTABILITY " - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2016/03/2 ... 71646.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 3:04 pm

2.54pm 14:54

A petition has now been created [by Jeremy Corbyn] to encourage David Cameron to recall parliament. (Business Live, Guardian)

The number of signatories is going up by leaps and bounds. The link to the petition is over at the Business Live blog. Comes to something when a petition is needed to try to prise the PM away from his holiday at a time like this.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 3:05 pm

Surely an excuse can be rustled up for a COBRA meeting. That should act as a lure.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 3:07 pm

PorFavor wrote:

2.54pm 14:54

A petition has now been created [by Jeremy Corbyn] to encourage David Cameron to recall parliament. (Business Live, Guardian)
The number of signatories is going up by leaps and bounds. The link to the petition is over at the Business Live blog. Comes to something when a petition is needed to try to prise the PM away from his holiday at a time like this.

I posted the link to it a couple of posts above yours PF. Good to see Labour acting decisively over this ... dreadful that the government don't seem able to even look like they have a plan - or even any sense of urgency about getting one.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 3:10 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
LabourList ‏@LabourList 27m27 minutes ago
Welsh Labour slams Plaid Cymru’s “fantasy” plan for First Minister job-share http://labli.st/1VTbyTp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Sorry - but this sounds completely bonkers ... if this is really what Plaid has suggested - foommmph (I can't write the noise I want to make).

... Predictions put Welsh Labour on course to lose two Assembly Members (AMs), leaving the party three short of an overall majority. With the Lib Dems set to make further losses and being reduced to a rump, Labour may need to rely on Plaid votes in the Senedd to pass legislation.

Now reports suggest that in potential coalition negotiations, Plaid could push for a deal that would see their leader Wood become First Minister for the first half of the five year Assembly term, followed by a Labour FM for the remainder of the term. If it happened, it would be the first time in the 17 years since the Welsh Assembly was created that the position would not be held by Labour.

But a spokesperson for Welsh Labour dismissed the proposal as “a total fantasy, dreamed up by a party giving up on democracy”. They added that “voters won’t look kindly on the nationalists trying to fix their way to power, instead of trying to win the election fair and square.”

Privately, party sources are equally dismissive of the idea, with one describing it as “b*******”.

Smacks of desperation. Power at any price.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 3:11 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
PorFavor wrote:

2.54pm 14:54

A petition has now been created [by Jeremy Corbyn] to encourage David Cameron to recall parliament. (Business Live, Guardian)
The number of signatories is going up by leaps and bounds. The link to the petition is over at the Business Live blog. Comes to something when a petition is needed to try to prise the PM away from his holiday at a time like this.
I posted the link to it a couple of posts above yours PF. Good to see Labour acting decisively over this ... dreadful that the government don't seem able to even look like they have a plan - or even any sense of urgency about getting one.

Whoops! Sorry - should have known you'd be on the ball!

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 3:11 pm

Tom Newton Dunn ‏@tnewtondunn 7m7 minutes ago
Sajid Javid has now decided to rip up his Australian tour, fly back to the UK, and go straight to Port Talbot. Sense has prevailed.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 3:12 pm

PorFavor wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:
PorFavor wrote: The number of signatories is going up by leaps and bounds. The link to the petition is over at the Business Live blog. Comes to something when a petition is needed to try to prise the PM away from his holiday at a time like this.
I posted the link to it a couple of posts above yours PF. Good to see Labour acting decisively over this ... dreadful that the government don't seem able to even look like they have a plan - or even any sense of urgency about getting one.
Whoops! Sorry - should have known you'd be on the ball!

Never have I felt less on the ball PF - sadly. But nice of you to think that.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 3:15 pm

Labour Whips Retweeted
Owen Bennett ‏@owenjbennett 7m7 minutes ago
'So there's nothing in the diary I need to be around for next week?'
'No minister, it's all fine. Go and have a lovely time in Australia!'

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 3:18 pm

From the G's business live blog:

The steel crisis has lead to the surprising sight of Conservative MPs supporting state ownership of the industry.

Asked about nationalisation, David Davies, who chairs the Welsh Affairs Select Committee, said “I’m not against that idea at all”.

He told Radio 4’s World At One that:

We do need to have a viable steel industry in this country. It’s very important from a defence point of view.

Here’s the clip: Tory MP ‘not against’ nationalising UK steel industry
Tom Pursglove, Tory MP for Corby, is also backing the “save our Steel” campaign - given there is a Tata plant in his constituency.

I can't begin to imagine how sick the people of Redcar and their MPs are going to feel when they hear that. They were left to swing ... because, of course, no Tory MPs interests to protect at the time and not just before an election and referendum.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 3:23 pm

Chris Ship ‏@chrisshipitv 10m10 minutes ago
Sun's @tnewtondunn says @sajidjavid decided Australia is the wrong place to be afterall. I suggest South Wales(rather than New South Wales)?

That's the quip we might expect to be used by opposition parties when they finally get to ask the government what their plans are ....

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 3:24 pm

3.18pm 15:18
Sajid Javid returning to the UK

Newsflash: Business secretary Sajid Javid is abandoning his trip to Australia to help tackle the steel crisis. (Business Live, Guardian)

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 3:25 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Chris Ship ‏@chrisshipitv 10m10 minutes ago
Sun's @tnewtondunn says @sajidjavid decided Australia is the wrong place to be afterall. I suggest South Wales(rather than New South Wales)?
That's the quip we might expect to be used by opposition parties when they finally get to ask the government what their plans are ....

Another whoops . . .

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 3:25 pm

Iain Dale ‏@IainDale 1m1 minute ago
On @LBC Drive we will be speaking to Welsh First Minister @fmwales about #SaveOurSteel.

Hope Carwyn is good. At least he acted pretty quickly to recall the Assembly.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 3:43 pm

The government has no intention of recalling Parliament according to the BBC TV news.

StephenDolan · Post by **StephenDolan** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 3:47 pm

PorFavor wrote:The government has no intention of recalling Parliament according to the BBC TV news.

But there's going to be a government meeting.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 3:53 pm

tinybgoat wrote:
citizenJA wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote: He never misses an opportunity to make this about a Corbyn flaw eh.
What is 'hard-left bakers' in this context, please?
I put 'Labour NEC for hard-left bakers' into an Internet search engine.
I had a page of results full of Conspiracy Stalin-Apocalypse-Crusaders-For-Foreign-Baked-Goods in abundance.
It's the Bakers food and allied workers union
http://www.bfawu.org/
Corbyns a 'Croissant eating Socialist'
So they've got him over a cracker barrel.

Oh, gracious! Wonderful! Forgive me for not getting back to this exchange sooner!
I've got to read it all now, thank you for the explanation.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 3:54 pm

StephenDolan wrote:
PorFavor wrote:The government has no intention of recalling Parliament according to the BBC TV news.
But there's going to be a government meeting.

UK government to hold steel crisis meeting
Anushka Asthana

Sajid Javid - the business secretary - is on his way home from Australia to tackle the crisis, while David Cameron is also returning from a holiday in Lanzarote.

Downing Street sources said the prime minister was always due to fly home today, but he is now expected to meet with ministers tomorrow for an emergency meeting to discuss the Tata Steel decision.

After that, he will head to Washington DC for the Nuclear Security Summit.

Javid has been forced to cut short a trip to Australia, during which he was going to attend a meeting on cyber security tomorrow.

http://www.theguardian.com/business/liv ... 8537bc83db" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 4:03 pm

PorFavor wrote:The government has no intention of recalling Parliament according to the BBC TV news.

Asthana's crisp blog post I've posted from up the thread says different from the BBC.
Oops, it's been updated, same live blog - blaming Corbyn for making Asthana write the earlier post.

The government says it has no plans to recall parliament to discuss
the steel crisis, despite Jeremy Corbyn’s request earlier today.

The petition to recall MPs back from their holidays has already attracted 5,000 signatures in the first hour.
Petition to recall parliament. You can sign here.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/126128

http://www.theguardian.com/business/liv ... ed7992f774" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 4:05 pm

PorFavor wrote:
3.18pm 15:18
Sajid Javid returning to the UK

Newsflash: Business secretary Sajid Javid is abandoning his trip to Australia to help tackle the steel crisis. (Business Live, Guardian)

oh the humanity

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 4:30 pm

tinybgoat wrote:
StephenDolan wrote:
HindleA wrote:Workless households have fewer children, on average, and %age falling. Today's ONS stats.
Percentage falling? See, IDS was right, his plan is working! Praise the Lord.
Umm, does this mean they're having fewer children,
or something more sinister?

"Out of the 20.7 million households (where at least 1 member is aged 16 to 64),
in April to June 2015, in the UK, 11.6 million (55.9%) were classed as working,
a further 5.9 million (28.3%) were classed as mixed and 3.3 million (15.8%)
were classed as workless.

The broad picture since 1996 is one of an overall increase in the share of working
households and a declining share of workless households. There has also been an
overall decline in the share of children aged 0 to 15 years old living in workless
households since 1996.

Growth in the share of working households in the UK has been partly driven by
increased proportions of lone parents working.The share of lone parents who
were in employment has risen from 43.8% in 1996 to 64.4% in 2015.

Workless households contain adult members aged 16 years and over who are
either unemployed or inactive. Inactive adults can include students in full-time
education as well as those who are sick or disabled, looking after the family or
home, or early retired."

http://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabo ... 2015-10-06" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(my emphasis)

Look at what counts as 'workless'! 'Economically inactive' counts towards 'workless' in this study!
That's fine, just as long as we're all clear 'economically inactive' people don't get counted as
'workless' ('unemployed') for government employment headline purposes.

Oh, yikes, that's hard - look at all those lone parents having to raise their child(ren) and work outside the home at the same time.
I love children. I don't like the notion people have to earn the right to have children. Some of worst parents I've ever met
were wealthy. That's anecdotal, I know. Anyway, it's a full-time job, children. I support parents wanting to go back to work
outside their home if that's what they think is best. I'm sorry if they'd prefer not to and an ideological, spiteful government
stands in the way of a more secure, less stressed home environment by keeping the population scrambling for employment.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 4:39 pm

Universal Credit roll-out in Reading a "shambles"

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/readin ... g-11111614" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 4:59 pm

StephenDolan wrote:
HindleA wrote:Workless households have fewer children, on average, and %age falling. Today's ONS stats.
Percentage falling? See, IDS was right, his plan is working! Praise the Lord.

An aside from me here.

I've had difficulty with some people in my professional life. If I've got to work with someone I'd prefer never knowing, when
appropriate and safe, I've met/meet their child(ren). It's amazing how extraordinarily wonderful children are born to some
witless fools. The witless often manage to partner with a nice person too, but it's the children that create an absolute
change in me. The parent is still a witless fool but their child(ren) place them in a state of grace. I'm unable to hate
a person I don't like at all after meeting their children. It's fine if those children are nieces or nephews. It works
the same.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 5:00 pm

ohsocynical wrote:Universal Credit roll-out in Reading a "shambles"

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/readin ... g-11111614" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm shocked

seeingclearly · Post by **seeingclearly** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 5:00 pm

A warning for people on medication for depression.

http://voxpoliticalonline.com/2016/03/3 ... ns-weblog/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 5:07 pm

PorFavor wrote:Surely an excuse can be rustled up for a COBRA meeting. That should act as a lure.

How are the baked goods provisions?

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 5:12 pm

Mmm...that blog post seems rather confused.

As I've mentioned in my latter career I was involved with prescribing, working alongside a PCT pharmacist, on drug budgets, standardising protocols, identifying cohorts for monitoring, & staff training on working on issuing repeat prescriptions. [Most people think the doctor sits and issues them all, they don't.]

Back then, over 11 years ago, no patient with depression would have been allowed to go as long as a year without review unless they were under a psychiatric specialist who was monitoring the patient fairly regularly.

Maybe Mike Sivier could clarify it, as it sounds alarmist.

seeingclearly · Post by **seeingclearly** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 5:12 pm

Universal Credit continues to be rolled out for single people, nominally at least is set to be rolled out across the country to people in that group from April. I take this to mean that single people making new claims will be put onto UC, I may be wrong, there was a recent article about this I haven't been able to source. It will disproportionately affect independent disabled people. I will look for the article again unless someone else posts it here.

(Am getting awful reload issues on most news sites, Guardian is truly awful, it crashes AdBlocker too, any remedies would be gratefully received, my IPad mini doesn't have this issue with non news sites.)

martinson · Post by **martinson** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 5:13 pm

citizenJA wrote:
PorFavor wrote:Surely an excuse can be rustled up for a COBRA meeting. That should act as a lure.
How are the baked goods provisions?

I wonder if they get inside information from a Tata source?

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 5:14 pm

ohsocynical wrote:Universal Credit roll-out in Reading a "shambles"

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/readin ... g-11111614" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

At least some improvement,then.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 5:17 pm

ohsocynical wrote:Universal Credit roll-out in Reading a "shambles"

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/readin ... g-11111614" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

FFS - how damning is this?

“Since go-live date we have received notification of 127 customers potentially moving on to Universal Credit in the Reading area.

“Of those that have housing costs, 30 have been council tenants and our staff are working very closely with these tenants to support them through this process.

“Evidence is indicating so far that this is having an impact on the ability of these customers to pay their rent.

“All Universal Credit payments are made four weeks in arrears.

“To date, we have made two applications to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) requesting the housing element of the tenants’ Universal Credit to be paid directly to Reading Borough Council to minimise rent arrears whilst we work with the tenants to support them to manage their finances."

And a roll out that was supposed to be completed by 2012 now predicted to happen by 2021. Risible. They've got to pull the plug - surely?

Is Reading council Tory controlled?

seeingclearly · Post by **seeingclearly** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 5:21 pm

I think the issue being raised is that people on long term prsecriptions, in the blog six months is mentioned, who are used to not having to request prescriptions frequently are not being informed that a change has been made that could affect the continuity of their treatment, not a blanket condemnation of the change.

With significant delays in some surgeries to get appointments and then additional time to wait for the prescription to be filled, this could lead to stable patients becoming unstable.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 5:21 pm

Ooph - just caught sight of Jezza's jumper on the Guardian's pic of him visiting Port Talbot. His wife really should have vetoed that one.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 5:23 pm

Petition to recall parliament hits 10k, and rising....

That was quick! Jeremy Corbyn’s petition for parliament to be recalled to debate the steel crisis has reached 10,000 signatures after just two hours.

This means the government has to officially respond:

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 5:24 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
ohsocynical wrote:Universal Credit roll-out in Reading a "shambles"

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/readin ... g-11111614" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
FFS - how damning is this?

“Since go-live date we have received notification of 127 customers potentially moving on to Universal Credit in the Reading area.

“Of those that have housing costs, 30 have been council tenants and our staff are working very closely with these tenants to support them through this process.

“Evidence is indicating so far that this is having an impact on the ability of these customers to pay their rent.

“All Universal Credit payments are made four weeks in arrears.

“To date, we have made two applications to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) requesting the housing element of the tenants’ Universal Credit to be paid directly to Reading Borough Council to minimise rent arrears whilst we work with the tenants to support them to manage their finances."
And a roll out that was supposed to be completed by 2012 now predicted to happen by 2021. Risible. They've got to pull the plug - surely?

Is Reading council Tory controlled?

Labour controlled. Just. I think.

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 5:28 pm

The offending pullover.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 5:31 pm

R

eading's fuel poverty levels up by 30 per cent
The number of households in fuel poverty in Reading has increased from 5,600 to 7,264 - worse than the national and south east average.

Councillor Jamie Whitham referred to the statistic showing a 30 per cent increase at the full Reading Borough Council meeting on Tuesday, March 22, saying: “No-one should have to choose between heating and eating, but unfortunately many in our town have to.”

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/readin ... p-11113519

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 5:32 pm

yahyah wrote:

The offending pullover.

Blimey, that's understated compared with some of the clothes Mr Ohso insists on wearing...

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 5:35 pm

ohsocynical wrote:
yahyah wrote:

The offending pullover.
Blimey, that's understated compared with some of the clothes Mr Ohso insists on wearing...

I actually like that he's gone as he is - hasn't stopped to put on a suit and tie and do the whole press photo preparation thing. Rather endearing. My jumper critique is done with a smile.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Wed 30 Mar, 2016 5:46 pm

More on Reading's winter fuel poverty.

Winter Watch 2015/2016 - £75,000 provided support to older and vulnerable people suffering fuel poverty - in partnership with voluntary organisations - 135 people were referred, 53 payments of £50 and 74 payments of £40 or less were made toward energy bills. Two homes got emergency oil-fire heating, six people were referred for ECO boiler replacement or upgrades and one to the private sector scheme. The council has paid for three urgent boiler repairs and one immersion heater for owner-occupiers on low income.Advice and help with setting boilers and storage heaters and other energy efficiencies has been given.

solid wall insulation and housing stock - private sector housing conditions in Reading have improved since 2006 with the number of “non-decent homes” dropping from 20,500 to 12,200 in 2013 - a 40 per cent drop. The area of greatest improvement has been in “thermal comfort”. A pilot in solid wall insulation has begun in council-owned homes with 27 homes insulated in Hexham Road and 60 homes in Dee Park

community and energy - the council has been working Citizens Advice Reading , Reading Draught Busters, its own Winter Watch team and with a thermal imaging camera to help community groups with energy advice. Council homes are also being installed with solar panels where possible.