Firm offers efficient lamps to light-switching MP

RS Components, Europe’s largest supplier of electronic and electrical components, is offering 30 free energy-efficient lamps to David Willetts, Shadow Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities & Skills and MP for Havant. The company says it’s extended the offer to “do away with Willetts’ need to spend £240 of taxpayers’ money on replacing his lights, as reported in the media this week.”

Willetts allegedly spent £150 of taxpayers’ money to replace 25 lamps in his second home in West London and another £80 to change the lights in his bathroom.

According to RS Components, energy-efficient LED lamps require up to 80 per cent less electricity than a standard lamp, and typically last up to 50,000 hours. Assuming Willetts would use such lamps 12 hours per day, seven days a week (at a cost of £0.10 per kilowatt-hour), the current media furor might have been avoided, the firm suggests:

“Had these been used in the first place, the taxpayer would only need to foot the bill for their replacement every 11 years,” according to RS Components.

The Corby, Northamptonshire-based firm is also offering to send a free energy-efficient lamp to any other Parliamentary Member.

“Perhaps if every MP switched to energy-efficient lamps, further embarrassment on related expense claims could be avoided,” said Neil Harrison, customer marketing manager at RS Components. “The potential savings for taxpayers on energy bills and maintenance would run into the millions over time.”