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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the impact of the severe cold weather on vulnerable households, and (2) the ability of those residents on pre-payment meters to pay their energy bills.

Suppliers are required to offer vulnerable households with prepayment meters short-term support through emergency and friendly-hours credit and additional support credit if needed. The Government has put in place support worth over £37bn to assist consumers, including those with prepayment meters, with recent rises in the cost of living. The household support fund, assisting those most in need, has also been extended to March of this year. Support for eligible households is also available through the Warm Home Discount, the Winter Fuel Payment and the Cold Weather Payment.