Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of number of additional households likely to enter fuel poverty as a result of OFGEM decision to raise the price cap by £693 to £1971 in (a) Cynon Valley constituency and (b) Rhondda Cynon Taff local authority.

Fuel poverty is a devolved matter and different metrics of fuel poverty are used in the Devolved Administrations. BEIS has responsibility for the measurement of fuel poverty in England, therefore no estimate has been made by BEIS on levels of fuel poverty in the Cynon Valley constituency or the Rhondda Cynon Taff local authority in Wales. Such estimates are managed by the Welsh Government.

The Government is committed to protecting customers from price spikes, particularly vulnerable customers. The Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payment help ensure the most vulnerable are better able to heat their homes over the colder months. Energy efficiency support is also available through programmes such as the Energy Company Obligation Scheme. Additionally, households in Great Britain will receive a £200 cash rebate on their energy costs from October.

The Energy Price Cap will remain in place at least till the end of 2022 to ensure millions of customers pay a fair price for their energy.