Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions she has had with Ofgem on trends in the level of consumer energy debt.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
I meet regularly with Ofgem to discuss debt, and I welcome Ofgem’s recent Call for Input on affordability and debt.
Earlier this week, I met with energy suppliers and outlined our expectation that suppliers do all they can to support customers in debt. I also meet regularly with stakeholders like Citizens Advice to work together on how consumers can be best supported.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she is taking steps to support (a) the meat industry and (b) independent butchers with high energy costs.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Energy Bills Discount Scheme provides all eligible businesses and other non-domestic energy users with a baseline discount on high energy bills for 12 months from April 2023 until 31 March 2024.
A higher level of support will be provided to some Energy and Trade Intensive Industries (ETIIs) for 70% of their energy. Industries eligible for this support include certain meat and fish processing businesses.
A full list of eligible industries is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-bills-discount-scheme-factsheet/energy-bills-discount-scheme-energy-and-trade-intense-industries-assessment-methodology#annex-a-list-of-eligible-sectors-for-energy-and-trade-intensive-industries