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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of using prepayment meters on users of such meters in (1) managing their finances, (2) meeting the increased cost of living, and (3) other challenges.

No assessment has been made. The Government recognises that rising energy prices can make it more difficult for consumers with prepayment meters to buy the energy they need. Therefore, the Government has provided a £37 billion package of cost-of-living support to help households and businesses this winter, including a £15 billion targeted package of direct support for the most vulnerable households. A further funding package worth £26 billion will provide support to the most vulnerable households in 2023/24.