Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to take steps to (a) provide Gypsies and Travellers living on roadside encampments with support through Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding and (b) work with (i) Traveller Liaison Officers and (ii) other Local Authorities Officers to confirm the eligibility of those people for that scheme.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
After stakeholder engagement sessions and research exercises, the government has been unable to establish a robust method for households in caravans not on permanent sites to prove that their caravan is their main or sole residence, whilst protecting public funds against fraud.
We recommend that these households should contact their local authority to apply for the Housing Support Fund and also visit the ‘Help for Households’ webpage on GOV.UK to view what other support they may be eligible to receive - https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many (a) Gypsies and (b) Travellers living on Traveller sites have (i) applied for and (ii) received an Alternative Fuels Payment.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government do not hold the data requested.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will publish disaggregated data on the number of Gypsies and Travellers living on sites who have (a) applied for and (b) received the Energy Bill Support Scheme Alternative Funding payment since the scheme was introduced.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
As of 11th July 2023, the cumulative number of those who self-declared as travellers (fixed) that had applied for the Energy Bill Support Scheme Alternative Funding (GB & NI) was 12,040, of whom 8,120 had received their payment for the support.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes in the level of standing charges on (a) low income and (b) other vulnerable households.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
How suppliers choose to set the standing charge and unit rate is a commercial decision. However, the energy price cap sets a limit on unit rates and standing charges, ensuring that millions of households pay a fair price for their energy.
In August 2022, Ofgem reviewed the components of the standing charge to see if they could be reduced. Ofgem concluded that, if the methodology for the standing charge were to change, there are numerous high consuming, vulnerable users, such as disabled users, who would pay more. Therefore, retaining the current methodology protects vulnerable users with greater energy needs.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding will reach (a) Gypsy and Traveller households living on encampments and (b) itinerant liveaboard boaters.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government is keen to support travellers and itinerant liveaboard boaters and we are currently looking at options for how these groups can receive support with their energy costs. The Government understands that some of these households may not be able to demonstrate that their caravan or boat is their main or sole residence, and the Government is looking into how they can support them in line with the current proof of address requirements.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make the Alternative Fuel Payment available to (a) Gypsy and Traveller households living in encampments and (b) itinerant liveaboard boaters.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government is keen to support these households and to ensure that they can receive the Alternative Fuel Payment via the Alternative Fund where eligible. We are currently working to find an acceptable method for these households to provide proof of eligibility, whilst protecting public funds, so they can claim the AFP AF support.