Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many people are employed in the gas and oil industry; and what methodology her Department uses to calculate this statistic.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department uses widely recognised industry estimates provided by Offshore Energies UK (OEUK). According to OEUK’s 2022 workforce estimates (https://oeuk.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/OEUK-Workforce-Insight-2022.pdf), oil and gas companies support around 200,000 jobs across the supply chain and wider local economy. This includes 30,000 people who are employed directly by the sector.
Information on the methodology used by OEUK to estimate workforce numbers was provided in the answer given to the hon. Member for Brighton Pavilion on 25 March 2024 to Question UIN 18876.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate she has made of the number and proportion of households experiencing fuel poverty in Northern Ireland on 27 November 2023.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
DESNZ has responsibility for the measurement of fuel poverty in England. The latest
estimates of fuel poverty in England are available
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fuel-poverty-statistics
Fuel poverty is a devolved matter and different metrics of fuel poverty are used in the Devolved Administrations. The latest fuel poverty estimates for Northern Ireland, published by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive are available here: Estimates of fuel poverty in Northern Ireland in 2020 and 2021 (nihe.gov.uk)
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate she has made of recent trends in the number of people experiencing energy debt; and what steps her Department is taking to provide support to help people with energy debt (a) pay off their debt and (b) with new energy bills.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Ofgem regularly publishes data on households in debt and arrears, here:
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/debt-and-arrears-indicators
The Government understands the challenges that are posed by cost-of-living pressures that includes energy bills and the impact of debt. Energy prices have fallen significantly with the price cap more than halving from £4,279 in January 2023 to £1,834 since the start of October 2023.
This coincides with the £900 cost-of-living payment being provided by the Government across 2023/24, which has increased from the £650 provided the previous year. The Government continues to closely monitor energy prices and will keep support schemes under review.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she plans to take steps to provide energy bill support for (a) low-income and (b) vulnerable households during winter 2023-24.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government recognises the challenges posed by cost-of-living pressures, including the impact of energy bills, and is already providing extensive financial support to households. This includes a package of support to assist households and individuals with rising costs of living that will total over £104 billion, or £3,700 per household on average, over 2022-2025.
Millions of vulnerable households across the UK are receiving up to £900 in further Cost of Living Payments this year.
These payments are in addition to established financial support in Great Britain, including the Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payment. Decisions on established financial support in Northern Ireland are devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing additional financial support for energy costs to people with a terminal illness.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government frequently assesses the merits of energy cost support policies and the impacts various policy ideas would have on the most vulnerable households.
The Government is continuing to provide targeted support for vulnerable households as prices come down. In 2023-24 the Government is already providing additional cost of living payments of up to £900 to households on means-tested benefits, £300 to pensioner households, and £150 to those on eligible disability benefits.
This is alongside existing and ongoing energy bills support for the most vulnerable that includes the:
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that light-sensitive people will continue to have access to non-LED lightbulbs following the implementation of minimum energy performance standards for lightbulbs.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The existing Ecodesign regulations which set the minimum energy performance standards for lighting products already contain an exemption which allows light-sensitive people access to non-LEDs via a medical prescription. As part of our proposals to update the minimum energy performance standards for lighting products, the Government consulted on an amendment to the exemption which would enable light-sensitive people to access non-LED lightbulbs more easily.
The Government response will be published in due course.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will provide a new social energy tariff for (a) low income households and (b) households with energy-intensive medical equipment.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government is continually reviewing the financial support it provides for the differing energy needs within its communities and prioritising support for the most vulnerable. The Help for Households campaign includes numerous cost-of-living support schemes in 2023/2024, such as 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 £650 in 2022/2023 to £900 in 2023/2024.
The Energy Price Guarantee was introduced in October 2022 to protect millions of households from the rising high cost of energy. The outlook for energy prices has improved significantly since last year’s Autumn Statement, with the Ofgem price cap falling 55% since its peak earlier this year, which is good news for households who have seen their energy prices fall.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, by what date her Department plans to make a decision on applications for the Energy and Trade Intensive Industries discount element of the Energy Bills Discount Scheme for applications in Northern Ireland submitted prior to 16 October 2023.
Answered by Graham Stuart
All eligible businesses automatically receive the baseline support under the Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS) from 1 April 2023, for as long as wholesale prices continue to meet or exceed the threshold price. The process for implementing additional support for Energy and Trade Intensive Industries in Northern Ireland is underway and while the Department cannot provide a precise date, it expects the work to be concluded soon. The additional support will be backdated to 1 April 2023.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of providing an energy assistance payment to families who use lifesaving medical equipment at home.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Officials from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero are working closely with a range of stakeholders to assess options for a new approach to consumer protection from April 2024 as part of wider retail market reforms and we intend to consult on these options in Summer 2023.
As part of this work, we are working with disability organisations, considering the costs for disabled people with medical equipment and assessing the need for specific support for disabled people using medical equipment in the home.