Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the average increase in energy costs (a) children’s homes and (b) other social care settings have experienced in 2022.

The department recognises the additional cost of living pressures that have arisen this year and that have impacted education and care settings and providers. The department continues to monitor the impact of the cost of living, including energy costs, and is working with other government departments to provide support.

The department recognises that children’s homes and other social care settings, much like the wider economy, are facing increased costs, including rising energy bills. From October 2022 to 31 March 2023, education and care settings and providers are benefiting from the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, which provides a price reduction, protecting them from excessively high energy bills over the winter period.