Tackling Poverty

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government – in the Senedd at 1:39 pm on 17 November 2021.

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Photo of Rebecca Evans Rebecca Evans Labour 1:39, 17 November 2021

Yes, the price of energy is of serious concern over the course of the coming winter, which is why yesterday we introduced a £51 million-scheme to create a household support fund, and part of that will be £38 million invested in our winter fuel support scheme. What that means in practice is that eligible households who are on low incomes will be able to claim a £100 cash payment to provide support towards their winter energy bills. The point you make about publicising this support is really important, which is why we're working closely with local government, and I'm really grateful for the work that they're doing. So, each local authority will write to people within their area who they know will be eligible for this support, to make them aware of it. And also, to those who think that they might be eligible but haven't yet heard from their local authority, by the end of December, I would recommend that they also look on the local authority's website, where they'll be able to self-apply for that support. But we expect to reach around 350,000 households with that £100 payment, to help with the increased cost of energy over the winter.