Asked by: Simon Lightwood (Labour (Co-op) - Wakefield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2023 to Question 185463 on Alternative Fuel Payments: Houseboats, what progress his Department has made on establishing whether there is a robust method for households without a permanent address to be able to claim the alternative fuel payment support.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government has determined that the most robust mechanism available for establishing whether someone resides permanently on a boat for the purposes of the EBSS Alternative Funding is to use the Canal and River Trust’s list of those who cruise continuously and held a long-term licence during the application window for the scheme.
Therefore, the Government has set up a process to issue a £600 support voucher to those itinerant boat dwellers through the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding for continuous cruisers. Eligible individuals will not need to apply for this support.
Asked by: Simon Lightwood (Labour (Co-op) - Wakefield)
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 announce details of an alternative fuel payment for people who live on houseboats as continuous cruisers.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government has been engaging with key stakeholder groups who represent those households without a permanent address. The Government is keen to support these households to ensure they can receive energy bills support. Officials are working to establish whether there is a robust method for these households to provide proof of eligibility, whilst protecting public funds, so they can claim the AFP support.
Asked by: Simon Lightwood (Labour (Co-op) - Wakefield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether people who live on houseboats as continuous cruisers are eligible to receive the alternative fuel payment.
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 (AFP) via the Alternative Fund (AF) where eligible. The Government is 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.