Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cost of Energy: Support for Families

Tuesday 15 November 2022 · 7 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 4 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government have taken decisive action to support millions of households with the energy price guarantee, which caps the cost of energy at 2,500 for the average household.
  • With the energy price guarantee at 2,500, the average saving for consumers across the country is 700.
  • We have set up the energy bills support scheme alternative funding to help park home residents, designed to give them the equivalent of the 400 support given to people with normal energy consumption patterns.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andrew Jones Con
Energy
Context

The MP is concerned about the cost of energy bills affecting families.

Question

What recent steps his Department has taken to support families with the cost of energy bills. The Government have taken decisive action to support millions of households through various measures, including the £2,500 cap on average household energy costs and a £37 billion spending commitment for low-income households.

Answer from Jeremy Hunt

The Government have taken decisive action to support millions of households with the energy price guarantee, which caps the cost of energy at £2,500 for the average household. We are also spending £37 billion to support millions of low-income households.

Answered
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Q2 James Grundy
Energy
Context

The MP seeks information on the actual savings made by households due to government interventions.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend tell me what the average household energy bill would have been if the Government had not intervened to help hard-working families across Britain? The PM mentioned that with the energy price guarantee, an average saving of £700 per consumer is expected.

Answer from Jeremy Hunt

With the energy price guarantee at £2,500, the average saving for consumers across the country—including his constituents in Leigh—is £700.

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Q3 Andrew Jones Con
Energy
Context

The MP has received correspondence from park home residents about their £400 support with energy bills. The resident's cost of electricity is increasing despite the help.

Question

I have received correspondence from park home residents about the £400 of support with their bills. Can my right hon. Friend assure me that his Department and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy are working together to get support to park home residents before the end of the year?

Answer from Jeremy Hunt

We have set up the energy bills support scheme alternative funding as a way of helping them. It is designed to give them the equivalent of the £400 that we are giving to people with more normal energy consumption patterns, and I will write to my hon. Friend with more details.

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Q4 Sammy Wilson DUP East Antrim
Northern Ireland Energy
Context

The MP received erroneous information from BBC Radio 4 regarding energy payment delays in Northern Ireland due to the non-operation of the Assembly.

Question

Will the Chancellor confirm, first, that money is available for the package; secondly, that the energy companies are ready to deliver it; and thirdly, that the Government will keep their commitment to ensure that payments are made before Christmas? Will he also investigate whether civil servants are interfering in the political process in Northern Ireland?

Answer from Jeremy Hunt

We are absolutely determined to ensure that support gets out to everyone in the United Kingdom as quickly as possible this Christmas. I am not aware of any delay of the kind suggested, but I will make inquiries to confirm.

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Q5 Nick Smith Lab Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney
Economy Energy
Context

The MP highlights the inadequate level of cold weather payments set in 2008, suggesting a need for adjustment due to current energy crisis.

Question

Today, it should be worth £37. Will the Chancellor collaborate with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and look into updating the figure in the light of the energy crisis?

Answer from Jeremy Hunt

I have had extensive discussions with our excellent new Work and Pensions Secretary about supporting people on low incomes. He will have to wait until Thursday for the details of our plan, but protecting the most vulnerable is a top priority.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was not directly addressed as no commitment was made to update the cold weather payment rate.

How: Waiting Until Thursday, Vague Priorities Statement

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Q6 James Murray Labour (Co-op) Ealing North
Energy Environment
Context

The MP criticises the collapse of the green homes grant scheme and questions the government's commitment to insulating homes.

Question

If the Government had followed our plan last year, 2 million of the coldest homes could already have been upgraded, saving households more than £2 billion on energy bills this year alone. Home insulation should be a no-brainer. Will the Chancellor explain why the Government will not follow Labour's plans and get on with it?

Answer from Jeremy Hunt

We are spending billions of pounds to help hundreds of thousands of families up and down the country to insulate their homes. We completely recognise that this is a vital part of our long-term energy policy.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was not directly addressed as no explanation was provided for why Labour's plans are not followed.

How: Spending Billions On Insulation, Recognising The Importance

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Q7 Alison Thewliss SNP
Energy
Context

The MP raises concerns over future affordability of energy bills for constituents facing significant cost increases.

Question

What reassurance can he give people out there whose bills are already unaffordable about what will happen in March?

Answer from Jeremy Hunt

The energy price support that we give to families will not end next April, and I will announce on Thursday what that support will be.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was not directly addressed as no concrete reassurance was provided for March onwards beyond a vague commitment to announce later.

How: Announcing Details Later

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