Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Liz Twist and Amanda Solloway

Tuesday 27th February 2024 Commons Chamber

[Amanda Solloway]

Last winter, this Government delivered £40 billion for households and businesses. We also have the warm home discount, the winter fuel payment and the disability cost of living payment. We are committed to ensuring that affordability is top of our list in relation to energy security.

[Liz Twist]

We have had 14 years of fiasco after fiasco with energy saving schemes from this Government. Frankly, my constituents are fed up with it. In Gateshead, just seven homes have been upgraded under the Government’s latest energy efficiency scheme. Can the Minister say why this is such a disaster and why progress is so slow?

[Amanda Solloway]

We continue to drive energy efficiency improvements for lower-income and fuel-poor households, through schemes including the energy company obligation, the social housing decarbonisation scheme and the homes upgrade grant.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Liz Twist and Amanda Solloway

Tuesday 16th January 2024 Commons Chamber

[Liz Twist (Blaydon) (Lab)]

4. What recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of energy social tariffs.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Amanda Solloway)]

The Government remain focused on providing help where people need it most. We are already providing a package of support totalling over £104 billion, or £3,700 per household on average, from 2022 to 2025.

[Liz Twist]

Last year, the Government promised action to help the most vulnerable with their energy bills. In April 2023, the Secretary of State’s predecessor, the right hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps), said that

“a social tariff could be very helpful”.—[Official Report, 18 April 2023; Vol. 731, c. 111.]

Nearly a year on, we have heard absolutely nothing about a social tariff. Will the Minister explain to the House why the Government have abandoned plans for a social tariff?

[Amanda Solloway]

As the hon. Member will know, we are continuing our support for vulnerable households, and it is important that we help households as best we can. As an example, we have the £900 cost of living payments and the warm home discount payment. Obviously, we will constantly monitor where we are and will ensure that we continue to support all those vulnerable households.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Liz Twist and Amanda Solloway

Tuesday 28th November 2023 Commons Chamber

[Liz Twist (Blaydon) (Lab)]

T9. Over the past year, the north-east has seen a dramatic collapse in the number of homes being upgraded through the Government’s sustainable warmth and eco schemes. That poor record is costing households in my constituency dearly. What is the Minister going to do to put it right?

[Amanda Solloway]

I have previously answered questions on that and indicated that we have committed to making sure that we eradicate fuel poverty and support all people with their energy bills.