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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it his policy that claimants of personal independence payments, disability living allowance and attendance allowance will continue to be able to access the Warm Home Discount Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

The Warm Home Discount is a key policy in the Government’s strategy to tackling fuel poverty. The Government consulted on reforming the Warm Home Discount scheme to better target fuel poverty and to provide the rebates automatically to households, as announced in the Energy White Paper. The Government’s response to the consultation will be published in the coming weeks.

The reforms include focusing support on households on the lowest incomes who are struggling to heat their homes. Eligibility would therefore be linked to receipt of a qualifying means-tested benefit and having high energy costs. Households in receipt of a disability benefit as well as one of the qualifying means-tested benefits and with high energy costs would be eligible for a rebate.