Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to ensure that rural households that rely on sustainable solid fuels will not experience increases in household bills.

Alternative fuel prices have fallen since winter 2022-23 and while there is no price cap for alternative fuels, households who use solid fuel for heating are still protected by the price cap for their electricity tariff.

The Government is currently providing a package of support worth £108 billion, or £3,800 per household on average between 2022 – 2025, which is one of the largest support packages in Europe. The Government is continuing to support households past April 2024, cutting National Insurance contributions, worth £900 to the average worker, increasing benefits by 6.7%, and increasing the National Living Wage.