Energy Bills: Support for Households

Answer from James Cartlidge

The Government have taken significant action to help households with rising energy prices. The energy price guarantee caps the unit price that households pay for electricity and gas, saving a typical household in Great Britain approximately £900 this winter, based on forecasts made at the time of the autumn statement. This is in addition to the £400 energy bills support scheme paid in six instalments from October last year to March this year.

Answer from James Cartlidge

My hon. Friend is a consistent champion for his constituents, particularly those on the lowest incomes who have faced tough challenges due to global inflationary pressures. In addition to the £1,300 that a typical household will receive this winter—the £900 energy price guarantee saving and the £400 energy bills support scheme payment—I confirm that households receiving benefits will have received £650 in the current financial year and will receive £900 next year.

Answer from James Cartlidge

The hon. Gentleman raises a very important case; I am more than happy for him to write to me with specifics. When we set up the energy bill relief scheme—the original scheme currently providing up to £18 billion of support not only for businesses, but for hospices, charities and public sector organisations—we were clear it could not be sustained at that level. It is extremely expensive, though important and generous. In setting it up, we had choices; we chose a universal scheme, meaning hospices continue to benefit.