Social Energy Tariff

Lord Watts Excerpts

Monday 16th June 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Watts (Lab)]

On behalf of my noble friend Lord Foulkes and with the permission of the House, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in his name on the Order Paper.

[Lord in Waiting/Government Whip (Lord Wilson of Sedgefield) (Lab)]

My Lords, the Government know that more needs to be done to support vulnerable households that are struggling with bills while we transition to clean power. Earlier this year, we published a consultation on the expansion of the warm home discount, giving more eligible households £150 off their energy bills. These proposals will bring about 2.7 million households into the scheme, pushing the total number of households that will receive the discount next winter up to around 6 million. The department has considered all responses, and a government response will be published in due course.

[Lord Watts (Lab)]

My Lords, I am grateful for the Minister’s response; I think all Members, on both sides of the House, agree that this is needed. Given the situation the Government found themselves in financially, I congratulate them on finding the resources within that difficult period to do something positive about it. When will this be introduced and when will this matter be resolved?

[Lord Wilson of Sedgefield (Lab)]

The consultation has just ended, and we expect to make an announcement in due course. The question is about a social tariff, but if you look at organisations such as National Energy Action, you will see that there is no one definition of a social tariff. We are doing everything we can in the circumstances to extend the warm home discount to as many families as possible.