Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April to Question 175730 on Alternative Fuel Payments: Second Homes, what steps he has taken to ensure that no claims for Alternative Fuel Payments have been made for (a) second and (b) holiday homes.

The Government have required applicants to self-declare when making an application to the Alternative Fund whether an address given is their primary residence. The Department has provided guidance to Local Authorities regarding steps which should be taken in regard to verification. If at any stage a Local Authority is aware that property was not the primary resident of the address at the time of the application, then this is treated as suspected fraud.