Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of recipients receiving the Warm Homes Discount earlier in the Winter; what discussions he and his official have had with the energy suppliers on the timing of those payments; and if he will make a statement.

Energy suppliers can provide the Warm Home Discounts payments to their customers at any point until the end of March each scheme year, although in many cases it will be paid earlier. The timing of the payment will also depend on how each customer pays for their energy.

While most households will receive their rebate automatically, without having to apply, this approach enables further households to be identified as eligible through manual means and allows energy suppliers time to resolve any issues with the Instructions to Pay. Therefore, the Government has not considered bringing forward the payment deadline.