Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what proportion of domestic properties in (a) York local authority, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) England are deemed to have high modelled energy costs based on the property’s characteristics of (i) type, (ii) age and (iii) floor area.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The table below provides the proportion of domestic properties calculated to have a high energy cost score based on Valuation Office Agency and, where missing, imputed property characteristic data for the 2022/23 scheme year:
Area | Proportion with a high energy cost score |
York local authority | 48% |
Yorkshire and the Humber | 50% |
England | 50% |
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of his proposed energy package from April 2023 on (a) hospitality, (b) retail and (C) all other types of business.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The new Energy Bill Discount Scheme (EBDS) will run from April until March 2024 and will continue to provide a discount to eligible businesses. An HMT led review into the operation of the current Energy Bill Relief Schemes was conducted with the objective of significantly reducing the overall burden on the taxpayer/public finances, and ensuring support is targeted at those most in need and unable to adjust to recent energy price rises. The review considered a range of qualitative and quantitative evidence, including input from businesses and stakeholders. The new scheme strikes a balance between supporting non-domestic customers and limiting taxpayer’s exposure to volatile energy markets, with a cap set at £5.5 billion.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the letter sent by the Minister of State for Energy and Climate to all Members on 25 November 2022 entitled Energy Bills Support in Great Britain: Complex Cases, what steps his Department is taking to communicate to affected people the timescale for making those payments to park home residents.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
On 19 December, the Government publicly announced that the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) will launch in 2023 to eligible households in Great Britain. The Government will communicate when the new scheme is live, which is anticipated to be on or before 27th February. It is working closely with stakeholder groups and representative bodies, including park home associations, to update them on progress and ensure those eligible are made fully aware of the scheme and encouraged to apply.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing ongoing support for energy costs to the charity sector; and whether his Department is taking steps to provide that support to charities after March 2023.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) provides a discount on the wholesale element of gas and electricity bills to ensure that eligible charities are protected from excessively high energy costs over the winter period. Following an HMT-led review into the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, the new Energy Bill Discount Scheme will run from April until March 2024 and will continue to provide a discount to eligible non-domestic customers including charities. The new scheme strikes a balance between supporting non-domestic customers over the next 12 months and limiting taxpayer’s exposure to volatile energy markets, with a cap set at £5.5 billion.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what data his Department holds on the number of domestic properties in (a) York local authority, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) England deemed to have high energy costs based on the property’s characteristics of (i) type, (ii) age and (iii) floor area in the context of a modelled energy cost score.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The table below provides the (rounded) number of domestic properties calculated to have a high energy cost score based on Valuation Office Agency and, where missing, imputed property characteristic data for the 2022/23 scheme year:
Area | Number with a high energy cost score |
York local authority | 44,000 |
Yorkshire and the Humber | 1,230,000 |
England | 12,330,000 |
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many people in (a) York local authority area, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) England who received help from the Warm Home Discount Scheme in 2021-2022 have been sent a letter saying they are not entitled to the help in 2022-2023 because under the new criteria they are not considered to have have high energy costs.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Low-income households apply through their suppliers, who set their own application processes and eligibility criteria. Therefore the Government does not have data on how many people received a rebate in 2021/22 who are not eligible for a rebate this year.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many people in (a) York Local Authority Area, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) England in receipt of Savings Credit received help from the Warm Home Discount Scheme in 2021-22.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Low-income households apply through their suppliers, who set their own application processes and eligibility criteria. Therefore the Government does not have data on how many people in receipt of Pension Savings Credit received a Warm Home Discount rebate in 2021/22.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reasons he has not launched a consultation on introducing a social energy tariff.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Autumn Statement set out a commitment to work with stakeholders to consider the best approach to consumer protection from April 2024, including options such as social tariffs.
Officials are assessing the options and discussing these with stakeholders. The Government will set out its position when this assessment is complete, in time to deliver a new approach from April 2024 when the Energy Price Guarantee comes to an end.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he is taking to help energy companies share data about which customers are on pre-payment schemes.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In order to drive improvements, Ofgem conducted a market compliance review in addressing weaknesses related to prepayment meters and ensuring suppliers take action to address such issues. In response to continued concerns with prepayment meters, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently written to Ofgem and suppliers to ask that they revisit such concerns and improve compliance including assessing suppliers’ processes for installing prepayment meters.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of requesting that energy companies (a) hand deliver or (b) post energy support prepayment meter cards to customers to help increase their usage.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government continues to work with suppliers to communicate the Energy Bills Support Scheme and the importance of customers checking post, emails and text for prepayment meter vouchers and taking action to redeem them.
Suppliers have an obligation to make a minimum of three attempts by at least two different methods (post, email, text, special action message) to contact customers who have not redeemed their voucher. Some suppliers are visiting relevant customers’ homes. Vouchers are valid for 90 days. Replacement vouchers can be issued but all vouchers must be redeemed by 30 June 2023.