Energy Price Guarantee Fuel Poverty 2023-02-28
2023-02-28
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from the rise in the energy price guarantee in April 2023. Constituents are facing higher bills despite falling wholesale gas costs and increasing profits for energy companies.
What assessment has been made of the potential impact of the rise in the energy price guarantee in April 2023 on levels of fuel poverty? The latest figures from 2020 show that more than two in five households in parts of Lupset and Thornes are in fuel poverty. People cannot afford to heat their homes, have a shower or cook hot meals. Since 2020, fuel poverty has risen further.
The Government announced that the energy price guarantee will continue from April '23. An analysis for 2022, published today, shows that 350,000 households in England were kept out of fuel poverty as a result of the support offered to households with energy bills.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific fairness issue regarding higher bills for those in fuel poverty was not addressed.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The planned rise in the price cap is expected to increase the number of people in fuel poverty by nearly 2 million. Leading energy charities are urging the Government to cancel the rise.
I welcome the Minister to her new role. The Department's responsibility is to tackle fuel poverty, so the planned rise in the price cap is the first big test. With the number of people in fuel poverty set to increase by almost 2 million, will she and the Secretary of State now do their jobs and tell the Chancellor to cancel the rise?
The Government have been looking at this issue incredibly closely. The analysis so far for 2022 shows that 350,000 households in England were kept out of fuel poverty.
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Assessment & feedback
The question about cancelling the rise was not directly addressed.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Millions of families across the country are facing higher bills. People want certainty from the Government, not sympathy or warm words.
We have millions of families across the country and bills going out this week. People do not want sympathy or warm words: they want certainty from the Government. This is a political choice because the Government refuse to impose a windfall tax on energy companies while giving billions in handouts to oil and gas firms.
I remind the right hon. Gentleman that we have been paying half of household energy bills, and that we will continue to look at this.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific political choice regarding windfall tax was not addressed directly.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Families are facing higher bills despite falling wholesale gas costs and increasing profits for energy companies. The Government refuse a proper windfall tax but give billions in handouts to oil and gas firms.
Millions of families across the country, with bills going out this week, want certainty from the Government. People do not want sympathy or warm words; they need action now. Is it true that people are sick and tired of the Government putting the balance sheets of fossil fuel companies ahead of family budgets?
I remind the right hon. Gentleman that we have been paying half of household energy bills, and that we will continue to look at this.
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Assessment & feedback
The issue about people being sick and tired of the Government was not addressed directly.
Response accuracy