Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what support her Department offers to (a) people on low incomes, (b) people who live in rented accommodation and (c) pensioners to enable them to switch to the lowest priced energy tariffs.

The Government has implemented a range of measures to support vulnerable households reduce their energy bills, including:

· Winter Fuel Payment - worth up to £300, estimated £ 2.15 billion spent in 2013/14 (specifically for pensioners);

· Cold Weather Payments - provide £25 for every week of a cold spell – in the last cold winter (2012/13) 5.8 million payments were made, estimated over £140 million spent in 2012/13 (specifically for those on low incomes);

· Warm Home Discount: provides assistance to around 2 million low income and vulnerable households with their energy costs each year. Over 1.4 million of the poorest pensioners received £140 off their electricity bill last winter (14/15), over 1.3 million of them automatically.

· Nearly £3m invested over 3 years in the Big Energy Saving Network to help the most vulnerable get the best deal for them and access to available help.