Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Energy Costs

Wednesday 23 October 2024 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Jim Shannon asked the Minister about discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on recent energy cost trends.
  • The Minister stated that energy costs, while reduced, remain high and affect affordability for consumers.
  • The Minister mentioned the establishment of Great British Energy to ensure secure and affordable energy access across the UK, including Northern Ireland.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Northern Ireland Energy
Context

Northern Ireland faces significant challenges with high energy costs, making affordability a critical issue for many households. The recent trends indicate that despite some decrease, prices remain elevated.

Question

Whether he has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on recent trends in energy costs in Northern Ireland. Recent data shows that energy costs have remained stubbornly high, affecting access and affordability for consumers across Northern Ireland.

Answer from Fleur Anderson

Although energy costs have come down, they remain too high. Our priority is to ensure access to energy is affordable and secure for consumers. That is why this Government have established Great British Energy, which will operate across the whole UK, including Northern Ireland. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy are working together positively on the GB Energy Bill.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific details of discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive were not provided.

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Q2 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Northern Ireland Energy
Context

Northern Ireland's unique energy profile includes heavy reliance on oil for heating, with around two-thirds of homes using it. This context is crucial when discussing changes to winter fuel allowances.

Question

It is a pleasure to see the Minister in her place and I wish her well; we have been friends for some time. She will be aware of Northern Ireland's unique energy profile: we are more heavily dependent and reliant on oil than other nations in the United Kingdom, with some 68% of people in Northern Ireland using oil. Was that taken into consideration when the Government determined to cut the winter fuel allowance? What discussions were had with the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to doing so?

Answer from Fleur Anderson

I am aware that two thirds of Northern Ireland's homes use oil. The decision to means test winter fuel payments was not a decision the Government wished to make, but a result of the Conservative's £22 billion black hole. In Northern Ireland, the Executive have decided that winter fuel payments will continue to be paid to households where someone receives pension credit. I have checked the figures; in Northern Ireland it is estimated that over 26,000 people could be eligible for pension credit and the winter fuel payment but are not receiving them. I encourage anyone who is eligible, or knows someone who could be, to check and apply if they can.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific consideration of Northern Ireland's oil dependency was not directly addressed in relation to the decision to cut winter fuel allowances.

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