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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the End Fuel Poverty Coalition's analysis of official data on the levels of excess winter deaths caused by cold homes, published in December 2022, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of that organisation's findings on trends in the number of excess deaths caused by living in cold and damp homes.

It is likely that a combination of factors has contributed to excess deaths over winter 2022/23, including high flu prevalence, cold weather, the ongoing challenges of COVID-19 and health conditions including heart disease and diabetes. However, the Government recognises the difficulty many households, especially vulnerable households, are experiencing this winter.

Energy efficiency improvements are the best way to tackle fuel poverty in the long term. Measures are available through a range of schemes including the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, the Home Upgrade Grant and the Energy Company Obligation.

The Government has also announced significant support for this winter and next with specific measures for the most vulnerable.