Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department are taking to provide financial support for energy costs to people with (a) motor neurone disease and (b) other conditions who run assistive medical equipment in their homes.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government keeps under continual review the financial support it provides for the differing energy needs within different communities and prioritises support for the most vulnerable.
Last winter the government paid around half of the typical household's energy Bill. And going into this winter, The Government has in place multiple schemes to support households with energy costs. These include the Winter Fuel Payment, Warm Home Discount, Disability Cost of Living Payment and the Cost-of-Living Payment for those on means tested benefits which has increased from up to £650 in 2022/2023 to £900 in 2023/2024.
Additionally, the default tariff price cap and Energy Price Guarantee will continue work together to protect consumers as the EPG will remain in place as a safety net until March 2024 should wholesale prices increase significantly during this period.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will take steps to extend the ban on forced installations of pre-payment meters to include all households which include a disabled person.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Ofgem has set out new rules around prepayment meters (PPMs) to ensure suppliers are acting in a fair and responsible way, with involuntary installations used only as a last resort.
Under the new rules, suppliers must carry out a site welfare visit before installation and refrain from all involuntary installations:
The Government has welcomed the steps Ofgem has taken on this issue.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to to support disabled people with the cost of energy.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
We recognise the cost-of-living challenges families, including those with disabled family members, are facing and in response last winter we launched a package of support for households and businesses, spending £40 billion and paying around half a typical household’s energy bill last winter.
Since last winter, the outlook for energy prices has improved significantly. The Q4 2023 price cap of £1,834 has more than halved compared to the Q1 2023 price cap which stood at a high of £4,279, which is good news for households who have seen their energy bills come down. The Energy Price Guarantee will remain in place as a safety net until the end of March 2024, should energy prices increase significantly during this period.
Additionally, the Government is providing further cost of living support to vulnerable households, including a £900 payment for those on means-tested benefits and an extra £150 for people on an eligible disability benefit.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions her Department has had with energy (a) providers and (b) suppliers on supporting households that include a disabled person.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
I have had regular meetings with energy suppliers, charities – including disability charities - and other external organisations in recent months on a range of consumer and affordability issues, including the energy needs of households that include a disabled person.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2023 to Question 181721 on Energy: Prices, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of a social tariff for energy.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
As set out in the 2022 Autumn Statement, the Government is exploring the best approach to consumer protection, as part of wider retail market reforms.
The Government continues to monitor the situation and will keep options under review.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2023 to Question 181721 on Energy: Prices, when her Department plans to publish a consultation on a social tariff for energy.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
As set out in the 2022 Autumn Statement, the Government is exploring the best approach to consumer protection, as part of wider retail market reforms.
The Government continues to monitor the situation and will keep options under review.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the report by Marie Curie entitled One charge too many: The impact of rising energy costs on people at the end of life, whether the Government plans to provide targeted financial support to households with one or more individuals that are terminally ill and rely on the use of medical equipment at home in the context of increases in energy costs.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government continues to monitor the situation and will keep options under review, including with respect to the most vulnerable households.
In response to higher prices, we have put in place the Energy Price Guarantee and provided significant help to those who need it most through this winter and into 2023-24, including an additional Cost of Living Payment of up to £900 for households on eligible means-tested benefits split into 3 payments and payments through the Warm Home Discount and Winter Fuel Payments.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2023 to Question 135303 on Medical Equipment: Energy, when the Government plans to announce additional targeted support for energy bills; and whether those plans will include targeted financial support to families with children who receive life-saving treatment at home for chronic diseases and disabilities.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Autumn Statement set out a commitment to work with consumer groups and industry to consider the best approach to consumer protection from April 2024, including options such as social tariffs, as part of wider retail market reforms.
Officials are considering the options and proactively discussing these with stakeholders. As part of this work, the Government is working with disability organisations, assessing the need for specific support for disabled people including families with disabled children. The Government will set out its position when this assessment is complete.