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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish a national fuel fund to support those unable to meet gas and electricity bills.

We have no current plans to establish a national fuel fund.

The Government provides support to those struggling with their gas and electricity bills through:

• The Warm Home Discount, which provides a £140 rebate to more than two million households;

• Winter Fuel Payments, that provides £200-300 to pensioners, ensuring that they can keep warm during the colder months; and

• Cold Weather Payments, which were automatically provided to more than one million households during winter 2018-19.

In addition, the default tariff cap protects all consumers on default tariffs from being overcharged and Ofgem’s safeguard price cap protects consumers on pre-payment meter tariffs.

The most sustainable approach to decreasing energy bills is improving energy efficiency.

• The Energy Company Obligation drives £640 million of investment annually into improving the efficiency of low income and vulnerable households.

• The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards require landlords spend up to £3500 (including VAT) improving their rented properties to EPC Band E.