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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with representatives of (a) Ofgem, (b) the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (GEMA) and (c) Competition and Markets Authority to help ensure protections for consumers off the gas grid from increases in gas prices.

Ministers and officials have been in close and regular discussions with Ofgem on gas prices, and Ofgem are keeping their board, GEMA, informed. BEIS and Ofgem officials also maintain regular contact with the CMA on energy markets.

If residents are off the gas grid, but on a default tariff for their electricity only supply, they will still be protected by the Energy Price Cap. The Energy Price Cap saves 15 million households on default tariffs up to £100 a year on average. The level of the price cap is set by Ofgem, the independent regulator.

Providing they are eligible households will also be able to access Warm Home Discount which provides £140 off energy bills over winter. Other energy bill support is available to qualifying households through the Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payment.

We recognise that some people continue to require extra support, which is why we have introduced a £421 million Household Support Fund to help vulnerable people in England with essential household costs over the winter as the economy recovers.