Oral Answers to Questions

Lee Anderson Excerpts

Tuesday 29th November 2022 Commons Chamber

[Sarah Green (Chesham and Amersham) (LD)]

6. What steps his Department is taking to support off-grid households with their energy bills.

[Lee Anderson (Ashfield) (Con)]

14. What steps he is taking to support off-grid consumers with their energy bills.

[Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)]

19. What steps he is taking to support off-grid consumers with their energy bills.

--- Later in debate ---

[Graham Stuart]

I think the hon. Lady has slightly confused the alternative fuel payment for those who are not on the gas grid with the energy bills support scheme—an easy mistake to make in this complex landscape. Those with a domestic electricity supply are already receiving the £400 discount under the EBS scheme that she has talked about. We are looking to come forward with details about timing, but it will be this winter; we are looking to work with local authorities in Great Britain to set up a scheme whereby people in park homes can apply as households, to ensure that they receive that £400 through local authorities as quickly as we can manage.

[Lee Anderson]

Now then. The residents of Ashfield mobile home park do not have a regular energy supplier. They get their gas and electricity sold on by the park owner—who, by the way, marks it up and puts a little bit back in his own pocket. Those residents do not have a great deal of money, so can the Minister please reassure them that help is on the way as soon as possible?

[Graham Stuart]

I thank my hon. Friend for his question; I hope he found my letter yesterday, and the annex to it, helpful. As I said, the Government have doubled support to £200 for alternatively fuelled households in recognition of the pressures caused by rising fuel costs. We are also determined to get support in place for edge cases. It sounds simple, and if I were where my hon. Friend is, I would certainly be shouting at the Minister to get on with it, but we do not live in a central database-driven society; it is necessary to identify these people in a way that protects public money. We are working flat out to deliver this support as quickly as we can.