Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the potential impact of changes to the winter fuel payment on the number of people living in fuel poverty.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
A statistical publication estimating the rate of fuel poverty for those in receipt of Winter Fuel Payment in 2023, and the proportion of households who would be in fuel poverty under new eligibility criteria, will be published in due course.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding eligibility for the Warm Home Discount in the next scheme year.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
From winter 2022 the Government extended the Warm Home Discount to support more households in fuel poverty, who have low incomes and live in homes that are costly to heat. For winter 2023/24 we lowered the threshold for a property to be considered costly to heat and we expect over 3 million households to have received the rebate. The official WHD statistics for 2023/24 will be published on 20th June.
As the scheme is funded by participating energy suppliers, we have struck a balance between supporting as many households as possible, providing meaningful support, and limiting the impact on wider consumer bills.
Energy prices have significantly fallen in the past year. We are continuing to monitor the situation and will keep options under review, including with respect to the most vulnerable households.
In addition, the Government produced impact assessments for the consultation in 2021 on expanding and reforming the Warm Home Discount scheme in England and Wales and for the publication of the Government Response in 2022, which are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/warm-home-discount-better-targeted-support-from-2022
Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to support disabled people who use medical equipment in their homes with their energy costs.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
We recognise the cost-of-living challenges faced by vulnerable people. The Government is providing extensive financial support to households in a package worth over £108 billion, or £3,800 per household on average, over 2022-2025. This includes the uprating of working age benefits by 6.7% this year.
We are also continuing to support eligible low-income households through the Warm Home Discount, providing an annual £150 rebate off energy bills until 2025-26.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a social tariff in the energy market.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
A social tariff is fundamentally about supporting the most vulnerable with the cost-of-living, including energy bill costs, and this is what we have delivered. Between 2022-25 we are delivering a package of support worth £108 billion, or £3,800 per household on average.
Energy prices have fallen significantly, and the Quarter 2 2024 price cap has dropped by nearly 60% since the 2023 peak. We are also continuing to support eligible low-income households through the Warm Home Discount, providing an annual £150 rebate off energy bills until 2025-26.