Oral Answers to Questions

Ian Lavery Excerpts

Tuesday 16th April 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mary Glindon (North Tyneside) (Lab)]

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

[Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) (Lab)]

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

--- Later in debate ---

[Amanda Solloway]

I stand by the Government’s record of support on fuel poverty: we have helped with affordability and with insulation and energy efficiency. We have given unprecedented support to 350,000 households, who were kept out of fuel poverty at the energy peak in 2022.

[Ian Lavery]

Electricity standing charges for people in the north-east are 71.2p per day while those in the south pay 40.79p per day. Can the Minister explain why the people in the north-east, the area experiencing the highest levels of fuel poverty in the country, are paying 75% more than those in other regions simply for the privilege of being connected to the grid?

[Amanda Solloway]

The hon. Gentleman makes a reasonable point on standing charges, which is one reason why we have urged Ofgem to gather information on them. We have had over 30,000 responses and will be looking at this in due course.