Tuesday 29th November 2022

(1 year, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Angela Crawley Portrait Angela Crawley (Lanark and Hamilton East) (SNP)
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15. What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the increase in the energy price guarantee in April 2023 on households.

Steven Bonnar Portrait Steven Bonnar (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) (SNP)
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16. What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the increase in the energy price guarantee in April 2023 on households.

Grant Shapps Portrait The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Grant Shapps)
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Future energy prices remain highly uncertain and are expected to remain elevated throughout next year. The energy price guarantee from April ’23 is currently expected to equate to £500 of support for households in 2023-24.

--- Later in debate ---
Grant Shapps Portrait Grant Shapps
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I have mentioned the 8 million homes, but perhaps it will help the hon. Lady if I point out the specific means-tested benefits which mean that those families will receive an extra payment of £650 on top of all the other assistance and help that I have outlined. This is an unprecedented situation. We have put billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money into supporting people. I hope the whole House will recognise that this Government have done everything within our power to assist.

Steven Bonnar Portrait Steven Bonnar
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The reality is that it is a damning indictment of decades of failed UK Government energy policy that we are even discussing harm to children as a result of rising energy Bills, given the vast energy resources at Scotland’s fingertips. Given that context, does the Secretary of State agree that it is absurd that nearly 1 million households in Scotland will be experiencing fuel poverty?