Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for what reason it is his policy to (a) exclude recipients of non-means tested disability benefits and (b) include recipients of housing benefits in the eligibility criteria for the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

The Government limited eligibility to means-tested benefits, including Housing Benefit, and tax credits below a certain income threshold as the most effective available proxies for low income and to maximise the targeting on fuel poverty. Our analysis based on the English Housing Survey was that the fuel poverty rates for DLA and PIP recipients in receipt of one of the qualifying means-tested benefits was 41%, compared to 14% for DLA and PIP recipients who are not eligible.