Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure (a) local authorities process Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding applications in a timely manner and (b) successful applicants receive one-off payments no later than six weeks after submitting their applications.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government has worked closely with pilot local authorities in designing the scheme and developing guidance for all local authorities. To reduce the administrative burden on local authorities and the time taken to process an application, many of the eligibility checks are completed centrally by the Government before applications are passed through to local authorities for final checks. The time that applicants will wait to receive support will depend on the case complexity and the volume of applications received by the local authority. The Government is committed to ensuring that eligible applicants are provided support as soon as possible.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the number of households who are eligible for the Warm Home Discount Scheme but that are unable to secure the discount because they have a communal electricity supply.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government does not hold data on the number of people using communal electricity supplies. Households are only eligible for a rebate under the Warm Home Discount if they have an electricity account with a participating electricity supplier. Low income and vulnerable households not eligible for a rebate may be able to receive assistance via the Industry Initiatives element of the Warm Home Discount.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he plans to publish details of successful bids to the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.1.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The 2019 Conservative Manifesto committed to a £3.8bn Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund over a 10-year period to improve the energy performance of social rented homes, on the pathway to Net Zero 2050.
The SHDF Wave 2.1 competition closed in November 2022, and successful projects are likely to be notified in March 2023.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to take steps to enable households who are eligible for the Warm Home Discount Scheme but have a communal electricity supply to secure the discount.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Rebates provided under the Warm Home Discount have always been provided to the electricity bill payers of participating energy suppliers so households with a community energy supply are not eligible. This makes the scheme efficient to deliver. Households who are ineligible via that route are able to benefit from assistance under the Industry Initiatives element of the Warm Home Discount.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will extend the Park Homes Warm Home Discount Scheme to all households with a communal electricity supply.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Rebates provided under the Warm Home Discount have always been provided to the electricity bill payers of participating energy suppliers so households with a community energy supply are not eligible. The Warm Home Discount Park Homes Scheme is run by Charis Grants and funded voluntarily by energy suppliers under the Industry Initiatives element of the Warm Home Discount. It is not a government scheme.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Southeastern have requested a derogation from the requirement to consult in relation to possible timetable changes in May 2023.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Southeastern’s contract with the Department requires it to carry out formal consultation when considering material changes to its timetable.
Southeastern is not considering material changes to its timetable in May 2023 and therefore is not required to conduct a formal consultation. Southeastern is considering making some key targeted changes in May 2023, including adding additional services in the peaks, to better match fluctuating demand and in doing so will continue to take passenger and stakeholder feedback onboard.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential risk of overcrowding at London Bridge Station in the context of additional usage relating to the timetable implemented by Southeastern on 11 December 2022.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
London Bridge was specifically rebuilt at a cost over £1 billion between 2012 and 2018 to facilitate easy interchange for passengers. It is a fully accessible station, with lifts to all platforms. Network Rail, who manage London Bridge, and all train operators that use the station, including Southeastern, are constantly assessing demand and passenger flows and have plans in place to ensure that if the station does get crowded, it always remains safe.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information the Department holds on Southeastern train punctuality at recorded station stops for each quarter since January 2022.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department monitors operational performance closely and engages with the rail industry at all levels. Southeastern has a Service Contract that sets quantifiable performance targets and the Department holds data on train punctuality by period at recorded station stops as recorded by Network Rail which includes information for Southeastern.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) publishes statistics showing train punctuality at recorded station stops for Southeastern on a periodic basis on the following links at:
https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/performance/passenger-rail-performance/table-3138-train-punctuality-at-recorded-station-stops-by-operator-periodic/; and on a quarterly basis at,
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department has made assessment of the potential impact of the withdrawal of New Homes Bonus legacy payments on local authorities.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
In 2021, we published a consultation on the future of the New Homes Bonus and sought views from the sector on a range of issues.
When considering changes to the New Homes Bonus, the Government has considered both the impact on local authorities and the effectiveness of the Bonus in encouraging housing growth.
Further announcements will be set out in the usual way.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to publish his Department's response to the Future of the New Homes Bonus consultation.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
In 2021, we published a consultation on the future of the New Homes Bonus and sought views from the sector on a range of issues.
When considering changes to the New Homes Bonus, the Government has considered both the impact on local authorities and the effectiveness of the Bonus in encouraging housing growth.
Further announcements will be set out in the usual way.