Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate she has made of recent trends in the number of people experiencing energy debt; and what steps her Department is taking to provide support to help people with energy debt (a) pay off their debt and (b) with new energy bills.

Ofgem regularly publishes data on households in debt and arrears, here:

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/debt-and-arrears-indicators

The Government understands the challenges that are posed by cost-of-living pressures that includes energy bills and the impact of debt. Energy prices have fallen significantly with the price cap more than halving from £4,279 in January 2023 to £1,834 since the start of October 2023.

This coincides with the £900 cost-of-living payment being provided by the Government across 2023/24, which has increased from the £650 provided the previous year. The Government continues to closely monitor energy prices and will keep support schemes under review.