Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the report by the Social Market Foundation and Public First entitled Fairer, warmer, cheaper: new energy bill support policies to support British households in an age of high prices, published on 8 March 2023, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of that report's (a) conclusions and (b) recommendations.

The Autumn Statement set out a commitment to work with consumer groups and industry to consider the best approach to consumer protection from April 2024, including options such as social tariffs, as part of wider retail market reforms.

Officials are assessing evidence and options, including published reports, including ‘Fairer, Warmer, Cheaper’ and discussing these with stakeholders, including Citizens Advice, who commissioned this report. The Government will set out its position when this assessment is complete, in time to deliver a new approach from April 2024.