Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the energy support measures announced in the Autumn Budget 2026, what estimate he has made of the number of students living in halls of residence and purpose-built student accommodation who will not be eligible for the Household Energy Payment; and whether he plans to issue guidance to local authorities on including those students and tenants of houses in multiple occupation in the eligibility criteria for the £100 million discretionary fund for households not eligible for that payment.

To help households with the rising cost of energy, the government will provide a £100 Household Energy Payment for households in council tax bands A to D for this year. Halls of residence and purpose built student accommodation that fall outside the council tax system will not be eligible for the Household Energy Payment. However, the government recognises that some households which are not eligible for the Household Energy Payment may still need support. The government is therefore providing £100 million for local authorities in England to provide further support to households most acutely impacted by rising energy bills.

Local authorities are best placed to identify and support vulnerable households in their area, and the government will issue guidance to local authorities on this in due course.