Asked by: Ian Byrne (Independent - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of standing charges issued by energy suppliers on low and middle-income households.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Although standing charges are a commercial matter for suppliers and are regulated by Ofgem under the price cap, the Government knows that too much of the burden of the bill is placed on them. Ofgem’s recently published update regarding reforming standing charges outlines 3 broad options it will take forward:
Ofgem’s review of standing charges considered the distributional impacts of potential changes to standing charges, and it can be found here:
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/standing-charges-update-our-review.
The changes Ofgem are seeking to introduce are aimed at giving consumers, including those who may be struggling with their bills, more control over their energy costs. Consumers will be able to choose the right tariff to suit their consumption pattern.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Independent - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the report entitled Kind of Blue, published by the Carbon Tracker Initiative in June 2024, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of upstream emissions of carbon capture schemes on the government's net zero targets.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As highlighted in the Climate Change Committee's CB6 report, CCUS enabled technologies, including Power, will be essential to achieving net zero. By capturing and storing carbon dioxide, CCUS significantly reduces overall emissions. Emissions from the production of natural gas must reduce significantly both in the UK and globally. Through the North Sea Transition Deal DESNZ is working with industry to cut emissions from upstream production by 50% from 2018 levels by 2030. Internationally, the UK is a member of the Global Methane Pledge to collectively reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Independent - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's polices of UN Secretary-General António Guterres's call for every country to ban advertising from fossil fuel companies, dated 5 June 2024.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is responsible for regulating advertising in the UK across traditional forms of media and takes environmental issues into account. The ASA operates independently of Government, and I would encourage the Hon. Member to reach out to the ASA to discuss this issue further.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Independent - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of his Department's policy on new oil and gas fields in the North Sea on his policies on net zero.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We plan to consult later this year on the implementation of our manifesto position not to issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields.
The Government’s priority is a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climate and legal obligations, which drives towards our clean energy future of energy security, lower bills, and good, long-term jobs.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Independent - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help support low income households with their energy bills.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government believes the only way to protect billpayers permanently is to speed up the green transition towards homegrown clean energy. The creation of Great British Energy will help us harness clean energy and have less reliance on foreign, volatile energy markets and will help in our commitment to be a clean energy superpower by 2030.
In the short-term, we are continuing to deliver the Warm Home Discount which provides a £150 annual rebate on energy bills for eligible low-income households. I am also having regular discussions with energy suppliers to ensure that consumers are supported this winter, especially the most vulnerable.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Independent - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department are taking to provide financial support for energy costs to people with (a) motor neurone disease and (b) other conditions who run assistive medical equipment in their homes.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Government keeps under continual review the financial support it provides for the differing energy needs within different communities and prioritises support for the most vulnerable.
Last winter the government paid around half of the typical household's energy Bill. And going into this winter, The Government has in place multiple schemes to support households with energy costs. These include the Winter Fuel Payment, Warm Home Discount, Disability Cost of Living Payment and the Cost-of-Living Payment for those on means tested benefits which has increased from up to £650 in 2022/2023 to £900 in 2023/2024.
Additionally, the default tariff price cap and Energy Price Guarantee will continue work together to protect consumers as the EPG will remain in place as a safety net until March 2024 should wholesale prices increase significantly during this period.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Independent - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will take steps to extend the ban on forced installations of pre-payment meters to include all households which include a disabled person.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
Ofgem has set out new rules around prepayment meters (PPMs) to ensure suppliers are acting in a fair and responsible way, with involuntary installations used only as a last resort.
Under the new rules, suppliers must carry out a site welfare visit before installation and refrain from all involuntary installations:
The Government has welcomed the steps Ofgem has taken on this issue.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Independent - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to to support disabled people with the cost of energy.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
We recognise the cost-of-living challenges families, including those with disabled family members, are facing and in response last winter we launched a package of support for households and businesses, spending £40 billion and paying around half a typical household’s energy bill last winter.
Since last winter, the outlook for energy prices has improved significantly. The Q4 2023 price cap of £1,834 has more than halved compared to the Q1 2023 price cap which stood at a high of £4,279, which is good news for households who have seen their energy bills come down. The Energy Price Guarantee will remain in place as a safety net until the end of March 2024, should energy prices increase significantly during this period.
Additionally, the Government is providing further cost of living support to vulnerable households, including a £900 payment for those on means-tested benefits and an extra £150 for people on an eligible disability benefit.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Independent - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions her Department has had with energy (a) providers and (b) suppliers on supporting households that include a disabled person.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
I have had regular meetings with energy suppliers, charities – including disability charities - and other external organisations in recent months on a range of consumer and affordability issues, including the energy needs of households that include a disabled person.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Independent - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2023 to Question 181721 on Energy: Prices, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of a social tariff for energy.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
As set out in the 2022 Autumn Statement, the Government is exploring the best approach to consumer protection, as part of wider retail market reforms.
The Government continues to monitor the situation and will keep options under review.