Hitchin MP Bim Afolami has been discussing the cost of living crisis and what can be done about it, as well as Luton Airport expansion plans.

Read on for what our town's parliamentarian had to say about the topics.

Tackling the Cost of Living

Families across Hitchin & Harpenden have been telling me that they are concerned by the rising cost of living. The Government has this month announced an unprecedented package of support to help families and businesses with their energy bills.

The Energy Price Guarantee will ensure that a typical household pays an average £2,500 a year for their energy, from October 1, for the next two years.

On average usage, a household will save £1,000 a year. This is in addition to the already announced £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme for households across the UK.  The most vulnerable UK households will also continue to receive £1,200 of support.

The Energy Bill Relief Scheme will provide protections for all businesses, voluntary sector and public sector organisations which face excessively high energy bills over the winter period.

To administer support, the Government has set a Supported Wholesale Price – expected to be £211 per MWh for electricity and £75 per MWh for gas, less than half the wholesale prices anticipated this winter – which is a discounted price per unit of gas and electricity.

As your local Member of Parliament, I will continue to work hard to address the concerns of Hitchin residents and deliver on your priorities.

Luton Airport Expansion

The expansion of London Luton Airport would increase noise and air pollution for our local communities. It would also place an excessive strain on local transport networks – leaving our rural roads and rail under real pressure.

Since I was first elected, I have opposed any plans to expand Luton Airport. That includes both the ongoing threat of an expansion to 32 million passengers per annum and also the proposed expansion to 19 million passengers currently being considered. The latter expansion was called in by the Secretary of State to be decided independently and I will continue to do what I can to oppose these plans