Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

£150 Council Tax Energy Rebate

Monday 17 October 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Proportion of eligible households receiving 150 council tax energy rebate was 87% in north Northamptonshire as of 31 July 2022.
  • Government aims to provide further targeted help for people with energy bills after April 2023.
  • Minister acknowledges work with energy-intensive industries and companies like Liberty Steel to address energy efficiency and costs.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Philip Hollobone Con
Housing Energy
Context

The question is prompted by the need to understand the effectiveness of the council tax energy rebate programme in assisting households facing rising energy bills.

Question

What proportion of eligible households have received the £150 council tax energy rebate in (a) north Northamptonshire and (b) England. The MP notes that while the scheme aims to help with increasing energy costs, data on uptake is needed to assess its success.

Answer from Paul Scully

As of 31 July 2022, the proportion of estimated eligible households to have received the £150 council tax rebate in north Northamptonshire was 87%, with the figure for England being 86%. The Minister acknowledges local authority progress and expects more recent figures to show further improvements.

Answered
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Q2 Philip Hollobone Con
Energy
Context

The question arises from the need to address remaining issues with the current £150 council tax energy rebate, particularly concerning those who have not yet claimed it.

Question

Putting £150 into the pockets of eligible households has provided valuable help to tackle rising energy bills, but 13% of people have still not claimed this money. As the Government now look for more targeted help for people with their energy bills after April 2023, if this scheme is revised and reintroduced, what improvements will be made?

Answer from Paul Scully

It is always a struggle to get the money out as quickly as possible, especially to those who are not paying by direct debit. Over the summer, I have been working with my officials and have directly spoken to a number of councils that have been a little slower than expected. We have issued guidance on the variety of payment methods and given short extensions to the deadline dates where councils have requested that, including in respect of any uncashed voucher-based payments with the Post Office until 30 November.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The question specifically asked for improvements if the scheme is revised and reintroduced, but the answer focused on past efforts to improve the current process without mentioning future plans or revisions.

How: Over Review Of Current Process, Work With Officials

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Q3 Sarah Champion Lab Rotherham
Energy Business & Trade
Context

The question is prompted by the Chancellor's shift in focus towards business energy support based on efficiencies, which leaves high energy users like Beatson Clark and Liberty Steel uncertain about future support.

Question

This morning, the Chancellor said that his support for business energy costs will focus on efficiencies. Beatson Clark and Liberty Steel in my constituency are high energy users and they have already made every energy efficiency they can. What will the Minister do to protect businesses such as those in my constituency with this shift in policy?

Answer from Paul Scully

I thank the hon. Lady for that comment. When I was in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, my colleagues there were always working with those energy-intensive industries such as the steel industry and with companies such as Liberty Steel, in her area. It is important that we continue to understand the position and develop the technologies that are needed for the long term, but in the medium term we will work with these industries to make sure we can offer support for those crucial supplies.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The question specifically asked about concrete measures to protect businesses like Beatson Clark and Liberty Steel, but the answer was more focused on long-term technology development rather than immediate protection or support.

How: Work With Industries, Develop Technologies

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