Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on extending the Warm Home Discount scheme.

I have regular discussions with my Cabinet colleagues on a range of energy related matters including on how we tackle fuel poverty. The Warm Homes Discount is a key policy in the Government’s strategy to reduce energy costs for low income and vulnerable households, which is why the Government committed to extend the scheme until 2026 in the Energy White Paper.

Since its introduction in 2011, the Warm Home Discount has provided over £3 billion in rebates worth £140 to households, in addition to other forms of support. In 2020/21, over 2.2 million households across Great Britain received a rebate, including over 135,000 households in Wales.

The Government consulted on expanding and reforming the scheme from 2022. Under the plans, the total spending will increase from around £350 million to £475 million per year and the value of the rebates will increase to £150. As a result of the additional funding, 780,000 more low-income and vulnerable households will receive rebates on their energy bills every winter, with the majority receiving the money automatically and without having to apply.