Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The Labour Government extended the Warm Home Discount to an additional 2.7 million households, raising the total number of beneficiaries to around 6 million.
I greatly welcome these cuts to forthcoming bills. Notwithstanding those potential improvements, many of my constituents in Roche live in areas not connected to the mains gas grid, and the initial outlay associated with implementing renewable technologies can be prohibitively expensive for people. Can the scope of the warm homes plan be extended so that areas rich in geological resources but exposed to fuel poverty, such as Roche, can benefit from geothermal heat networks and significantly reduce bills on the back of those cheap renewable sources?
My hon. Friend is a champion not just for his own constituency, but for Cornwall as a whole. We support the development of geothermal projects and recognise, in particular, the potential of geothermal heat as a low-carbon source for heat networks. We will have more to say about that in the warm homes plan, which will be published soon.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to extending the scope of the Warm Home Discount scheme specifically to include geothermal projects but acknowledged support and interest in such developments
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Citizens Advice noted that the Warm Home Discount has not kept pace with rising energy bills.
Citizens Advice notes that the warm home discount has not kept pace with rising energy bills and will struggle to touch the sides for families in energy debt. Will the Minister therefore commit to a Government review of whether the £150 discount provides sufficient support for the families who really need it right now?
The Government are gripped by the need to get energy bills down. That is why in April we will take £150 off the cost of energy for everyone in the country, and why we extended the warm home discount this year to 6 million households, almost doubling the previous number, and we will continue to take action to reduce bills for people across the country.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to a specific review of the Warm Home Discount but acknowledged efforts to address energy bill concerns
Response accuracy