Sam Rowlands MS for North Wales is urging Welsh Government to do more to help people in Wales with rising energy costs.
Mr Rowlands, Shadow Minister for Local Government, is calling for them to take more measures to ensure houses are more energy efficient.
He recently attended a Cardiff University webinar with other members of the Senedd where they shared their evaluation of the policy response to the cost-of-living challenge.
He said:
They highlighted that one of the disproportionate challenges facing those on lower incomes is of course the inflationary pressures of energy costs, and as we know in Wales we do have an older and less energy-efficient housing stock compared to other parts of the UK.
Data from the Wales fiscal analysis found that 45% of properties in Wales are graded A to C in terms of energy efficiency, compared to 52% properties elsewhere —having that highest level of energy efficiency.
Mr Rowlands asked Jane Hutt, Minister for Social Justice what discussions she was having with the Minister for Climate Change to make houses more efficient in Wales, to help with the inflationary pressures of energy costs on those with the lowest incomes.
The Minister thanked Mr Rowlands for a very constructive question and said it was a cross Government responsibility in terms of tackling fuel poverty.
Mr Rowlands added:
I was pleased to hear the Minister’s comments and hope Welsh Government will take on board the need to make houses more energy efficient. I would like to see them doing everything they can to help people deal with the rising cost of energy.
Sam Rowlands AS yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i wneud tai yn fwy effeithlon o ran ynni er mwyn helpu gyda chostau ynni cynyddol
Mae Sam Rowlands AS dros y Gogledd yn pwyso ar Lywodraeth Cymru i wneud mwy i helpu pobl gyda chostau ynni cynyddol.
Mae Mr Rowlands, Gweinidog Llywodraeth Leol yr Wrthblaid, yn galw arnynt i gyflwyno rhagor o fesurau i sicrhau bod tai yn fwy effeithlon o ran ynni.
Yn ddiweddar, mynychodd weminar gan Brifysgol Caerdydd gydag aelodau eraill o’r Senedd lle rhannwyd eu gwerthusiad o’r ymateb polisi i’r her costau byw.
Meddai:
Tynnwyd sylw at y ffaith mai un o’r heriau anghymesur hynny sy’n wynebu’r rhai ar incwm is yw pwysau chwyddiant mewn costau ynni, ac fel y gwyddom yng Nghymru mae gennym stoc tai hŷn sy’n defnyddio ynni’n llai effeithlon o gymharu â rhannau eraill o’r DU.
Datgelodd data gan ddadansoddiad cyllidol Cymru bod 45% o gartrefi yng Nghymru ar radd A i C o ran effeithlonrwydd ynni, o gymharu â 52% mewn mannau eraill – sydd â’r lefel uchaf honno o effeithlonrwydd ynni.
Gofynnodd Mr Rowlands i Jane Hutt, y Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol pa drafodaethau oedd hi’n eu cael gyda’r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd i wneud tai yn fwy effeithlon yng Nghymru, er mwyn helpu gyda phwysau chwyddiant mewn costau ynni ar y rhai ar yr incwm isaf.
Diolchodd y Gweinidog i Mr Rowlands am gwestiwn adeiladol iawn a dywedodd mai cyfrifoldeb trawslywodraethol oedd mynd i’r afael â thlodi tanwydd.
Ychwanegodd Mr Rowlands:
Roeddwn i’n falch o glywed sylwadau’r Gweinidog ac rwy’n gobeithio y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystyried yr angen i wneud tai yn fwy effeithlon o ran ynni. Hoffwn eu gweld yn gwneud popeth o fewn eu gallu i helpu pobl i ymdopi â chost gynyddol ynni.
