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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that the price of energy is affordable for older people.

The Government is committed to ensuring fair energy prices for all consumers. This has been delivered through the Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Act, which requires the energy regulator to cap standard variable and default energy tariffs.

The cap will save consumers a total of £1 billion on their bills annually.

In addition to the price cap, there is a strong package of financial support for older people. The Warm Home Discount provides a rebate of £140 off the winter energy bill for over 2 million low income and vulnerable households. All pensioner households receive a payment between £100 and £300 each winter through the Winter Fuel Payments and additional payments of £25 are available for cold periods through the Cold Weather Payment.