Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent conversations her department has had with charities about the impact of rising energy bills on vulnerable households.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Secretary of State has regular discussions with charities on a range of subjects including the impact of high energy bills. Details of Ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
The Government recognises that any price rise is a concern for households. The latest increase in energy bills is driven by increased wholesale energy costs, particularly gas, due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East. This means families and businesses are still experiencing the effects of global fossil fuel markets and is why we are so focused on getting onto clean, homegrown power that we control.
The Government has already intervened to give households breathing space with the cost of living by cutting VAT on electricity bills.
In addition, this Government took an average £150 of costs off bills at the Autumn budget, which will be factored into bills for years to come.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment her department has made of the impact of rising energy costs on (a) working families, (b) single person households and (c) pensioners.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises that any price rise is a concern for households. The latest increase in energy bills is driven by increased wholesale energy costs, particularly gas, due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East. This means families and businesses are still experiencing the effects of global fossil fuel markets and is why we are so focused on getting onto clean, homegrown power that we control.
The Government has already intervened to give households breathing space with the cost of living by cutting VAT on electricity bills.
In addition, this Government took an average £150 of costs off bills at the Autumn budget, which will be factored into bills for years to come.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment her department has made of the impact of rising wholesale costs on energy bills.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises that any price rise is a concern for households. The latest increase in energy bills is driven by increased wholesale energy costs, particularly gas, due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East. This means families and businesses are still experiencing the effects of global fossil fuel markets and is why we are so focused on getting onto clean, homegrown power that we control.
The Government has already intervened to give households breathing space with the cost of living by cutting VAT on electricity bills.
In addition, this Government took an average £150 of costs off bills at the Autumn budget, which will be factored into bills for years to come.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent steps her department is taking to support people with rising energy costs.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises that any price rise is a concern for households. The latest increase in energy bills is driven by increased wholesale energy costs, particularly gas, due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East. This means families and businesses are still experiencing the effects of global fossil fuel markets and is why we are so focused on getting onto clean, homegrown power that we control.
The Government has already intervened to give households breathing space with the cost of living by cutting VAT on electricity bills.
In addition, this Government took an average £150 of costs off bills at the Autumn budget, which will be factored into bills for years to come.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent conversations her department has had with energy suppliers on increasing energy debt.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has regular discussions with energy suppliers on a range of important issues, including energy debt.
The Government is working closely with Ofgem on a range of measures to deal with energy consumer debt and understand the impacts of different approaches on consumers.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions her Department has had with National Energy System Operator about the risk of blackouts.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great Britain has a highly resilient energy system. Maintaining a secure electricity supply is a key priority for the Government.
Government works closely with industry and regulators to improve and maintain the resilience and security of energy infrastructure and is confident the likelihood of a large-scale power outage remains low.
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has tools available to manage the system under a wide range of scenarios. The Government regularly engages with NESO and industry to understand risks to the energy system and ensure robust plans are in place to mitigate the impacts of electricity disruption.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
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 prevent (a) power cuts and (b) blackouts.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great Britain has a highly resilient energy system. Maintaining a secure electricity supply is a key priority for the Government.
Government works closely with industry and regulators to improve and maintain the resilience and security of energy infrastructure and is confident the likelihood of a large-scale power outage remains low.
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has tools available to manage the system under a wide range of scenarios. The Government regularly engages with NESO and industry to understand risks to the energy system and ensure robust plans are in place to mitigate the impacts of electricity disruption.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
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 prevent electricity system collapse.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great Britain has a highly resilient energy system. Maintaining a secure electricity supply is a key priority for the Government.
Government works closely with industry and regulators to improve and maintain the resilience and security of energy infrastructure and is confident the likelihood of a large-scale power outage remains low.
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has tools available to manage the system under a wide range of scenarios. The Government regularly engages with NESO and industry to understand risks to the energy system and ensure robust plans are in place to mitigate the impacts of electricity disruption.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will reduce beer and cider duty for drinks served in pubs.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent conversation her department has had with Ofgem about the expected energy price increase in October.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Legislation sets out that Ofgem, as the independent regulator, are solely responsible for operating the price cap and set the cap at a level that reflects the underlying costs incurred by an efficient supplier to provide gas and electricity to their customers.
The Government recognises that any price rise is a concern for households. The latest increase in energy bills is driven by increased wholesale energy costs, particularly gas, due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East. This means families and businesses are still experiencing the effects of global fossil fuel markets and is why we are so focused on getting onto clean, homegrown power that we control.
The Government has already intervened to give households breathing space with the cost of living by cutting VAT on electricity bills.
In addition, this Government took an average £150 of costs off bills at the Autumn budget, which will be factored into bills for years to come.