Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an estimate of the number of people claiming Personal Independence Payment who are no longer eligible for the Warm Homes Discount following the changes to eligibility in 2022; and what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of changing the criteria on those no longer eligible.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government has expanded and reformed the Warm Home Discount scheme in England and Wales to target fuel poverty better and provide most rebates automatically.
Households in receipt of means-tested benefits with high energy costs based on certain characteristics of their property are eligible for the rebate. Around 62% of Personal Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance recipients receive a means-tested benefit; those with high energy costs are eligible. As a result of expanding and reforming the scheme, the Government estimates that 160,000 more households where a person has a disability or long-term illness will receive a rebate.
These changes do not apply in Scotland, where customers apply for a Broader Group rebate through their energy suppliers, who can set their own eligibility criteria.
Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the accreditation process is for heat pump installers under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Answered by Graham Stuart
In order to participate under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, installers must first submit a request to create an account with the scheme administrator, Ofgem. Only Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certified installers, who are members of a Consumer Code that ensures customers are protected by a Trading Standards Institute Approved Code of Practice, are eligible to create an account and carry out work under the scheme. This ensures high standards for consumer protection.