Will the Minister outline what financial support is available for people struggling to pay energy bills during the cost-of-living crisis?
Our £38.5m Discretionary Assistance Fund is available to support households who are struggling to pay their daily costs, including those in energy crisis. The Fuelbank Foundation continues to provide crisis oil tank top ups across Wales, with an additional £500,000 of funding from the Welsh Government. To date, these interventions have supported 103,520 people, of which 43,814 were children. The UK Government has provided a limited amount of support this winter and a number of energy suppliers have crisis funds to support their most vulnerable customers.
Our Warm Homes Programme, including our advice service, Nest scheme and its successor demand-led scheme and links to GB wide schemes improve the energy efficiency of fuel poor households, reducing bills and delivering healthier homes.
Further detail of Welsh Government support is available in my response to Plaid Cymru’s debate on fuel poverty on 6 December: Plenary 06/12/2023 - Welsh Parliament (assembly.wales)