Fuel Poverty

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:56 pm on 14 February 2023.

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Photo of Jack Sargeant Jack Sargeant Labour 1:56, 14 February 2023

Can I thank the Minister for that answer, and also welcome the support that the Welsh Government is currently providing? The Minister will know I've raised for some time now the national scandal of thousands of vulnerable people being forcibly switched to prepayment meters. The UK Government, Ofgem and energy suppliers themselves have been queuing up to say that they were going to stop this, but they've always had the duty to do so, and they have ultimately failed. Switching is still happening today. In just a few weeks' time, the Tory Government in Westminster intend to pull the energy support from under the feet of residents. This is a real risk, isn't it, Minister—the risk that people will fall quickly into debt and that further inappropriate switching may take place. One of the best ways to avoid this, in the powers of the Welsh Government, is by giving people the best support and advice available. I understand the Welsh Government recently ran the in-home energy advice pilot, and I'm told by many groups that work with people who are vulnerable and at risk of fuel poverty that it worked well. Can I ask the Minister today how the pilot could be further rolled out to support residents in Wales?