Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the evidence given by the Chief Executive Officer of Energy Action Scotland to the Scottish Parliament's Net Zero, Energy, and Transport Committee on 26 April 2022 in relation to excess winter mortality and the energy price cap rise from October 2022.

While we have no plans to make a specific assessment, the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) Cold Weather Plan for England provides actions for organisations, communities and individuals, including health and care services, to protect against extreme cold. The UKHSA is also working with partners on cold weather public health campaigns, including the ‘Stay Well This Winter’ campaign and efforts to focus existing schemes to support those facing fuel poverty.