Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to assess the potential need for additional financial support for off-grid households; and (a) how often and (b) what metrics are used by his Department plans to make these assessments.

The Alternative Fuel Payment will provide £100 to support households who do not use mains gas for heating with the rising price of fuel this winter. The price of heating oil is estimated to have risen by around 147% in the year to October 2022. A payment of £100 will effectively limit the increase in heating costs to 130%, in line with the benefit offered by the Energy Price Guarantee for customers on mains gas. The Government will continue to monitor the prices of alternative fuels, such as heating oil, and will consider further intervention if required to protect UK households from extraordinary fuel prices.