Written question WQ93698
- Asked by
- Andrew RT DaviesConservative
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 2 days
Question
What consideration has the Cabinet Secretary given to the impact of the UK Government’s decision to scrap winter fuel payments, and what immediate work is being undertaken to support Welsh pensioners this winter?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
The decision that the Winter Fuel Payment will no longer be universal risks pushing some pensioners into fuel poverty. This is why I am keen to work closely with the new UK Government on our shared ambition of tackling poverty to develop a permanent, effective form of protection for households in need.
The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring people in Wales claim every pound to which they are entitled and has a well-established Income Maximisation Stakeholder Group to drive the work forward. We welcome the UK Government’s commitment to work with Welsh local authorities on a Pension Credit take-up campaign.
We already fund the Fuel Bank Foundation to deliver a national Fuel Voucher and Heat Fund scheme in Wales and have allocated more than £5.6million to this since June 2022.
Our Discretionary Assistance Fund is available to support households who are struggling to pay their daily costs, including gas/electricity costs.
Our Warm Homes Nest scheme is Welsh Government’s primary mechanism to tackle fuel for homeowners and those renting from private landlords. Get help with energy efficiency in your home from Nest | GOV.WALES
This year, we are investing more than £30 million to reduce the number of low-income households, including those on state pensions, living in cold, damp homes.
Eligible households will receive a bespoke measure of packages to insulate and decarbonise their home leading to a reduction in their energy bills to move them out of fuel poverty.