Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to support people with motor neurone disease with the cost of energy for medical equipment.

Ministers have recently met with the Motor Neurone Disease Association to discuss this matter. Government is continually reviewing the financial support it provides for the differing energy needs within its communities and prioritising support for the most vulnerable. The Help for Households campaign includes numerous cost-of-living support schemes in 2023/2024, such as the Winter Fuel Payment, Warm Home Discount, Disability Cost of Living Payment and the Cost-of-Living Payment for those on means tested benefits which has increased from up to £650 in 2022/2023 to £900 in 2023/2024.

Additionally, the Ofgem energy price cap and Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) will continue to work together to protect consumers as the EPG will remain in place as a safety net until March 2024 should wholesale prices increase significantly during this period.