Oral Answers to Questions

Beth Winter Excerpts

Tuesday 16th January 2024 Commons Chamber

[Kate Osborne (Jarrow) (Lab)]

5. What estimate she has made of the number of households in fuel poverty in winter 2023-24.

[Beth Winter (Cynon Valley) (Lab)]

15. What estimate she has made of the number of households in fuel poverty in winter 2023-24.

[Ruth Jones (Newport West) (Lab)]

18. What estimate she has made of the number of households in fuel poverty in winter 2023-24.

--- Later in debate ---

[Amanda Solloway]

I must point out the work the Government have been doing to help vulnerable people. Not only that, but we have halved energy bills. I have constant meetings with all stakeholders, including Citizens Advice and all the disability groups, and we are ensuring that we are supporting all vulnerable people in the cost of living crisis and as we go through this winter.

[Beth Winter]

I also have increasing numbers of constituents with significant levels of energy debt coming to my office seeking fuel vouchers. Why are the Government pursuing the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill, which the Minister herself has said will not bring down bills, when economic forecasters warn that delays in decarbonising will leave consumers with higher prices? Is it not time the Government dropped the focus on fossil fuels and delivered instead the public investment in renewable energy that will bring down bills and go some way to averting the climate catastrophe?

[Amanda Solloway]

We are committed not only to helping vulnerable people, but to making sure we are providing the best energy security we can. That is why we are committed to all the policies we have introduced.