Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support his Department has provided to families in response to recent increases in gas and electricity prices.
The government is committed to help protect households from price spikes and is very aware of the difficulties that families are experiencing as a result of the rise in energy prices. The government is providing significant financial support – up to £350 – to the majority of households, which will cover more than half of the April rise in energy bills for the average household. This support is worth £9.1bn in 2022-23.
The government is also providing an additional £500m for the Household Support Fund from April, on top of the £500m we have already provided since October 2021, bringing total funding to £1 billion. In England, Local Authorities are best placed to direct this help to those in their areas who need it most and will receive £421m, whilst the devolved administrations will receive £79m through the Barnett formula.