Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a time-limited energy tariff to help lower the cost of energy bills for (a) elderly people, (b) disabled people, (c) families with young children and (d) other people who are vulnerable to the cold.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The outlook for energy prices has improved significantly. The Ofgem price cap has more than halved since its peak at the beginning of this year.
The Government is providing Cost of Living Payments to UK households on eligible means tested benefits, including over 6 million people across the UK eligible ‘extra-costs’ disability benefits’, for those who face wider affordability challenges. This is in addition to ongoing winter support payments such as the Warm Home Discount, the Winter Fuel Payment and the Cold Weather Payment.
The Government will continue to monitor the situation and keep options under review.
Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will introduce a government-funded discounted social energy tariff for (a) disabled people, (b) unpaid carers and (c) people on lower incomes.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government is providing Cost of Living Payments for those who face wider affordability challenges, including £900 to households on means tested benefits, of £300 to pensioner households and of £150 to those on eligible disability benefits.
This is in addition to ongoing winter support payments such as the Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payments.
The Government continues to monitor the situation and will keep options under review, including with respect to the most vulnerable households.