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Warm Home Discount 2025-02-25
25 February 2025
Lead MP
Miatta Fahnbulleh
Energy Security and Net Zero
Con
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
TaxationClimate
Other Contributors: 26
At a Glance
Miatta Fahnbulleh raised concerns about warm home discount 2025-02-25 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Response
The Minister defended her statements, acknowledging that energy prices are too high but emphasising the necessity of transitioning to clean power to reduce dependence on global fossil fuel markets. She pointed out that previous Conservative governments failed to accelerate this transition. We are committed to supporting households in the short term with measures like expanding the warm home discount and offering debt relief, while also reforming the electricity market for long-term benefits. We aim to insulate and upgrade homes, reducing bills and delivering warmer homes. The Government will ensure Ofgem has powers to enforce regulations against unfair billing practices. The minister emphasised a commitment to clean power, energy debt relief schemes, creating jobs through renewables, and working cross-departmentally. She defended government actions on price rises, highlighting work on reducing dependency on fossil fuels. Stressed commitment to driving down bills through clean power, highlighting reliance on global fossil fuels and the need for support for vulnerable households. Emphasised ongoing work with local government and industry.
Energy Security and Net Zero
The Government are taking measures to protect families from the spike in gas prices, including expanding the warm home discount scheme to cover more than 6 million households next winter. The Minister also announced a debt relief scheme for those with unsustainable energy debt, additional funding for home upgrades under the warm homes local grant and social housing fund, and a call on Ofgem to use its powers fully to protect consumers. Furthermore, she emphasised the need for a transition to clean power to reduce vulnerability to fossil fuel markets.
Andrew Bowie
Con
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
The shadow Minister criticised the Government's measures as inadequate and focused on ideology rather than practical solutions. He argued that expanding the warm home discount is insufficient given the rise in energy price caps, and warned of higher levies due to a rapid build-up of renewables infrastructure. Bowie questioned the lack of a full system cost analysis for the 2030 target and asked when proposals for a debt relief scheme would be published.
Jon Trickett
Lab
Normanton and Hemsworth
The Conservative party's legacy includes a rigged energy market which resulted in £480 billion going to the energy industry while millions of households fell into fuel poverty. While welcoming the Government’s announcement on the warm home discount, it is clear that more needs to be done to reform the market and tackle fuel poverty.
Vikki Slade
LD
Mid Dorset and North Poole
The Liberal Democrats call for a 10-year emergency home insulation plan, building standards upgrades for new homes, decent homes standard improvements for existing properties, and requiring all energy companies to sign up to a single social tariff. The Minister must address concerns about the continuity of retrofitting schemes like HUG.
Luke Murphy
Lab
Basingstoke
While welcoming the warm home discount extension and measures tackling unsustainable debt, it is important to note that the previous Government left high energy prices. The fastest way to end dependence on volatile fossil fuels is through clean power and renewables.
Bradley Thomas
Con
Bromsgrove
Businesses are under pressure from high energy costs, but chasing an arbitrary target could be detrimental to industry and jobs. The way forward is through clean power which will drive down costs for business and create jobs across the country.
Nesil Caliskan
Lab
Barking
With constituents still dealing with the cost of living crisis due to high energy prices, there needs to be immediate action against unfair billing practices such as backdated energy charges. Immediate regulation is needed alongside long-term clean energy transition plans.
City of Westminster
The Minister acknowledged the need for reforming the electricity market and addressing gas-driven costs impacting consumers. She committed to working across Parliament to achieve better arrangements, emphasising the importance of a debt relief scheme for 1.8 million households dealing with accumulated energy debt.
Amanda Martin
Lab
Portsmouth North
The MP expressed concern over constituents suffering from energy debt due to previous government failures and welcomed proposals for accelerating a debt relief scheme, seeking further details on how it would benefit her constituency of Portsmouth North.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
He questioned the Government's decision to close down fossil fuel gas reserves despite acknowledging the need to move towards clean energy. He asked why they import gas instead of extracting it domestically, highlighting dependence on foreign suppliers.
Perran Moon
Lab
Camborne and Redruth
Welcoming the reform of Ofgem and back billing, he emphasised that transitioning to renewables would also create numerous green jobs across various sectors including wind, geothermal, tidal, and solar energy.
John Glen
Con
Salisbury
He raised concerns about the financial burdens on businesses due to tax increases, new regulations, and rising energy costs during the transition to clean power. He urged for consideration of these short-term impacts.
Deirdre Costigan
Lab
Ealing Southall
She criticised previous government failures in insulating homes and upgrading heating systems, welcoming today's discount announcement but emphasising the importance of Labour’s plan to upgrade hundreds of thousands of homes with heat pumps and better insulation.
Claire Young
LD
Thornbury and Yate
She called for a long-term plan for energy efficiency schemes beyond 2026, advocating against the chopping and changing seen under previous Conservative governments which causes uncertainty and confusion.
Jeevun Sandher
Lab
Loughborough
He welcomed the expansion of the warm home discount scheme but questioned the root cause of higher prices due to natural gas costs, urging commitment to clean energy by 2030 for sustained price reduction.
Dave Doogan
SNP
Angus and Perthshire Glens
He criticised the Energy Minister's claims about progress, questioning Labour’s understanding of energy markets, Ofgem's role, and asked when consumers will see concrete action on higher bills.
Chris Vince
Lab/Co-op
Harlow
Welcoming the extra support for residents in Harlow, he stressed the importance of cross-departmental communication to ensure funding reaches those most in need and acknowledged efforts by the Minister on this front.
We are committed to driving down energy bills through clean power. Prices are rising due to reliance on global fossil fuels, and we will support the most vulnerable.
John Slinger
Lab
Rugby
Welcomed the Minister’s statement and praised Citizens Advice teams for their work in supporting constituents with energy bills. Emphasised the importance of continuing support for such services during the cost-of-living crisis.
Lee Anderson
Reform
Ashfield
Asked why we are importing fracked gas from America when a new gas field was discovered in Lincolnshire, suggesting that fracking our own gas could be better for the environment.
Jayne Kirkham
Lab/Co-op
Truro and Falmouth
Welcomed the support in the statement regarding insulation programmes but emphasised the need to focus on the clean power plan as a long-term solution for energy security.
Lewis Cocking
Con
Broxbourne
Asked when the Government would support the UK’s oil and gas industry, including new oil and gas licences, to help bring down bills across the country.
Tom Collins
Lab
Worcester
Welcomed the statement's practical steps and long-term plan for transitioning to a resilient clean energy system. Emphasised the importance of working with UK innovators to make it easy for homeowners to upgrade their homes.
Luke Taylor
LD
Sutton and Cheam
Welcomed measures in the statement but asked to consider decoupling electricity and gas prices. Also highlighted a local issue regarding EU grants blocked by Sutton Council's Conservative group for council house upgrades.
Carla Lockhart
DUP
Upper Bann
Asked why Northern Ireland cannot access the warm home discount scheme despite similar issues in Scotland and Wales. Requested a meeting to discuss this matter further.
Ann Davies
PC
Caerfyrddin
Stressed the need for long-term solutions like social energy tariffs to support those likely to ration their energy over the next three months due to rising prices. Questioned if £150 off will be enough.
Shadow Response
Andrew Bowie
Shadow Response
The shadow Minister criticised the Government's ideological approach, stating it will increase energy bills in the long term. He requested details on debt relief schemes and full cost analysis for future levies.
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House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.