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 ensure that vulnerable households in Northern Ireland receive energy support payments.

Households are receiving a £600 payment in January. This is comprised of £400 under the Energy Bills Support Scheme Northern Ireland, and £200 of support under the Alternative Fuel Payment. Households also continue to benefit from the Energy Price Guarantee which means that tariffs in Nothern Ireland are 30% cheaper than in the Republic of Ireland and are 20% cheaper than (EPG-subsidised) tariffs in Great Britain.

Further support in direct payments is also being provided to vulnerable households this year, including cost of living payments for pensioners, people receiving disability-related allowances and those on means-tested benefits.