Asked by: Keir Mather (Labour - Selby and Ainsty)
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 reduce the daily standing charges for gas and electricity in Ofgem's (a) Yorkshire and (b) Northern regions.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
DESNZ Ministers and officials regularly discuss with Ofgem issues relating to the energy retail market.
Standing charges are a commercial matter for suppliers, although Ofgem regulates standing charges as they do with other elements of billing. This includes setting a cap on standing charges as part of the overall default tariff cap.
The variance in standing charge is mainly due to regional differences in energy distribution costs. These costs reflect the expenses of maintaining and upgrading the distribution network in a specific area, and the number of consumers those costs are spread across. On 30 March, my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State and I wrote to the Chief Executive of Ofgem, highlighting the importance of keeping standing charges as low as possible.
Asked by: Keir Mather (Labour - Selby and Ainsty)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department is taking steps to encourage rural households to transition to the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil fuel for domestic heating.
Answered by Graham Stuart
On 5 September 2023, during Parliamentary debates on the Energy Act, the Government committed to exploring the potential of renewable liquid fuels for heat by issuing a consultation within 12 months.
The Government has also taken powers in the Energy Act to impose obligations on heating fuel suppliers to increase the supply of renewable liquid heating fuels, should that be necessary.
Asked by: Keir Mather (Labour - Selby and Ainsty)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many miners were recipients of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme in (a) Selby and Ainsty constituency and (b) nationally in November 2023.
Answered by Graham Stuart
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 September 2023 to Question UIN 198552.
Asked by: Keir Mather (Labour - Selby and Ainsty)
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 has taken to support rural households in Selby and Ainsty constituency with increases in the cost of energy.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The outlook for energy prices has improved significantly since the last Autumn Statement. The Q1 2024 price cap of £1,928 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 prices fall.
However, Government recognises some households still require extra support so vulnerable households will receive up to £900 in further Cost of Living Payments, £250-£600 through the Winter Fuel Payment, the £25 Cold Weather Payment and the annual £150 Warm Home Discount scheme which has been extended to 2025/26 and expanded to support more households.
Asked by: Keir Mather (Labour - Selby and Ainsty)
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 (a) number and (b) proportion of care recipients who are in fuel poverty in Selby and Ainsty constituency.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Information on the number or proportion of care recipients who are in fuel poverty is not held.
The latest statistics for the number of households in fuel poverty in parliamentary constituencies in England can be found in the published sub-regional fuel poverty Official Statistics.
Asked by: Keir Mather (Labour - Selby and Ainsty)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many miners were recipients of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme (a) in Selby and Ainsty constituency and (b) nationally in August 2023.
Answered by Graham Stuart
As of 30 June 2023, there were 1,110 Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme members in Selby and Ainsty constituency and as of 31 July 2023, 119,162 members nationally. These are the most recent available figures.