Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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None provided, general question about steps to reduce energy bills.
What steps are being taken to help reduce energy bills?
The price cap has fallen by 60% since the start of last year, and the Government are taking a comprehensive approach to bring down future energy bills for consumers. That includes reforming electricity markets to make them more effective, investing across the energy system to make it smarter, and investing in energy efficiency to reduce costs for households.
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Q2
Partial Answer
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The MP is concerned about constituents struggling with high energy prices, especially in relation to the cost of achieving net-zero emissions.
My constituents are very concerned about the cost of net zero, and we need to know what that will cost them. Surely the Government need to take the British people with them on these policies.
That is certainly one of the Department's aims. We are very conscious that we must get that energy security while also helping all the vulnerable households—and non-domestic businesses—that need our support.
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Vague Commitments
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Q3
Direct Answer
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The MP wants to know if the Government's cost of living support should continue, along with more information about available help.
Does the Minister agree that this important support should continue, along with more information about the help that is available and how to gain access to it?
My hon. Friend is a great champion for his constituents, and of course I agree with him about the importance of ensuring that householders know where to obtain information about what they may be able to receive, especially as we are providing them with £108 billion between 2022 and 2025. I recommend that they visit the Help for Households web page on gov.uk to find out what support they may be entitled to.
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Q4
Direct Answer
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The MP is concerned that many rural properties not connected to mains gas are unaware of available support.
Can the Minister tell the House what support the Government are providing for those residents?
My hon. Friend has raised an important issue. We are, of course, helping all those households. The Government supported about 3 million households using alternative fuels with the £200 alternative fuel payments in the winter of 2022-23, and although energy prices, including alternative fuel costs, have fallen significantly since then, we are nevertheless committed to supporting all households with that £108 billion package between 2022 and 2025.
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Q5
Partial Answer
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The MP has recently installed solar panels and inquires about further Government support for such installations.
What more are the Government doing to encourage people to produce their own electricity by means of renewables?
I am delighted to hear that my hon. Friend has had those solar panels fitted. She will be interested to hear that the Government are considering options to facilitate low-cost finance from retail lenders to help households with the up-front costs of installation, and to drive rooftop deployment and energy efficiency measures.
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Q6
Partial Answer
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The MP is concerned about high energy bills for those using heat networks and suggests a mandatory cap to ensure fair prices.
Will the Minister consider a mandatory cap to ensure fair prices for heat network customers?
The hon. Lady makes an important point. Of course, the price cap is an issue for Ofgem. However, I would be interested to hear some of her suggestions and I am always happy to have a meeting on that particular subject.
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Q7
Partial Answer
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The MP is concerned about the high electricity standing charges for families in highlands and islands.
When will the Government introduce a highland energy rebate to ensure fairness for people across the highlands and islands?
The hon. Gentleman will know that we have had many conversations about this subject. One of the things that the Secretary of State and I have been doing is talking to Ofgem to make sure that it is looking at the standing charges. That has led to a call for input, which has recently had over 30,000 responses.
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Q8
Direct Answer
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The MP highlights a case of poor work carried out under the Government's ECO4 scheme, leading to court intervention.
Does the Minister agree that there should be better oversight and a simpler remedy for people like Beverley Scott?
The right hon. Lady makes an incredibly important point. Of course, one of the things that we are determined to do is make sure that those installations are carried out in the correct manner. In fact, we have new regulations in place to make sure that that happens going forward.
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Q9
Partial Answer
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Concerns over the level of standing charges in Edinburgh West, especially affecting those with pre-payment meters.
The Minister will know that I am concerned about the level of standing charges in my constituency. People on pre-payment meters often find that when they go to add payment, the standing charges wipe everything out. Can the Government and Ofgem provide more support for those on pre-payment meters?
The hon. Lady and I have had many conversations about this issue. One of the things that we have done is make sure that people who are on pre-payment meters are not unfairly penalised.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific support measures or changes to standing charges for pre-payment meter users were not addressed
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Q10
Partial Answer
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A report by the Resolution Foundation found that the onshore wind ban has disproportionately affected poorer households' incomes compared to richer ones.
The Minister and her colleagues have repeatedly said today that they care about cutting bills for families, but a recent report found that the onshore wind ban has hit the poorest households' income six times harder than that of the richest. Such households have been forced to pay additional electricity bills as a result of the total failure to build onshore wind in England. How can Ministers continue to claim they stand up for working families when blocking the cheapest form of clean energy, which could cut bills for families who desperately need help? Will the Secretary of State pledge to put this right so that onshore wind can be built again and customers can save money?
That is absolutely not the case. We stand here incredibly proudly as Ministers in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and we have made a commitment. We are doing more than has ever been done on renewables and offshore wind, and we have done more to help people with the affordability of their bills.
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Assessment & feedback
Addressing the specific claim about onshore wind ban's impact on household bills
Changing Subject To Overall Renewable Energy Commitments
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