6. How is the Welsh Government protecting residents in Alyn and Deeside from falling into fuel poverty this winter? OQ59140

The Welsh Government's current £380 million package of support includes the Warm Homes programme, which improves the energy efficiency of lower-income households. Eligible low-income households are also benefiting from our £200 fuel support scheme. Our 'Claim what's yours' campaign helps people to claim the benefits they are entitled to.

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?

Thank you. It's extremely disappointing that the energy price guarantee is increasing, as you referred to, from £2,500 for a typical household to £3,000 for a further 12 months from the beginning of April this year. We know that in Wales many would need to spend far more than £3,000 due to the age of the housing stock and extremely high standing charges. I don't think the average that the UK Government refer to really reflects the houses here in Wales.

The pilot that you referred to, the in-home energy advice pilot, ran from March 2021 to March 2022 in three areas of Wales—Gwynedd, Ceredigion and Caerphilly. The purpose was to test and measure the effectiveness of providing in-home advice and support services to people across Wales in relation to tackling fuel poverty. There were benefits of the pilot, but at the moment officials are considering the balance of the cost, the benefits and targeting of the advice pilot. That's being considered as part of the advice offer as part of the development for the next iteration of the Warm Homes programme.

I think what's really important is that trusted advice and support. We currently have in place an enhanced winter fuel campaign. That began on 1 November through the Warm Homes programme Nest scheme. That's targeting a much wider audience than the pilot to which you referred. It's accessible for everybody who needs energy efficiency advice and guidance. Cost-effective advice services will also be included in the next iteration of the Warm Homes programme. As I say, officials are looking at that, as to what advice they do provide, for the Minister for Climate Change.

In order to protect residents in Alyn and Deeside, elsewhere in north Wales and across Wales from falling into fuel poverty, the Welsh Government have said that a new national demand-led energy efficiency grant scheme, focused on homes in fuel poverty, will be procured as part of the Warm Homes programme and operational before next winter. When will this scheme be operational, and will it be available to eligible Welsh households ready for October 2023, when the cold weather traditionally kicks in?

As I said, currently, officials are looking at the pilot scheme to see what the benefits were before they give further advice to the Minister for Climate Change for the next iteration. But, just to reiterate for all of our constituents, advice and support for householders is available. We do have the Warm Homes programme Nest helpline.