Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
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 16 January 2023 to Question 124130 on Energy Bills Rebate, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing compensation to people who have been financially affected by the delay in providing access to the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding programme portal.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) will provide a £400 support payment to those households without a direct relationship to a domestic energy supplier and who have not received this support automatically through their energy provider. As such, these households will receive the same level of support with their energy bills as those consumers who have received their support automatically under the EBSS. Therefore, the Government will not be making an assessment on providing compensation to these households receiving the EBSS AF support.
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of policy solutions to local geographic price variations in retail fuel prices.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is continuing its road fuel market study. The CMA’s investigations will focus on the relationship between wholesale and retail fuel prices, factors driving local and regional variations in prices, and the role played by major supermarkets in the road fuel retail sector. The final report, including any recommendations on next steps, will be published in the Spring with the final report published before the statutory deadline of 7 July. The Government will carefully consider the recommendations, as well as looking at pro consumer options, which could give drivers better access to fuel price data.
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
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 January 2023 to Question 124130 on Energy Bills Rebate, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of potential delays in implementing the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding programme on household finances.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government is committed to delivering support for those households without a direct relationship to a domestic energy supplier as quickly as possible. The Government is working closely with local authorities to ensure that they are suitably prepared to deliver support to eligible households. Further updates on the scheme's launch will be provided in due course and therefore no assessment will be made.