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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he expects to issue guidance on the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding to local authorities to enable them to administer the scheme; for what reason that guidance has not been provided to date; and if he will make a statement.

The Energy Bill Support Scheme Alternative Funding is due to be launched in February, and local authorities will be provided with guidance ahead of this launch. Based on feedback from the pilot scheme, the Government has taken the decision to extend the pilot phase to ensure that it makes the scheme as robust and effective as possible, and that this is reflected in our guidance to local authorities.