Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Social Justice – in the Senedd at 1:40 pm on 1 March 2023.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 1:40, 1 March 2023

Clearly, this is an issue where across Government, working with my colleague the Minister for Climate Change, Julie James, we are leading on this all-important issue with our Warm Homes programme, which, of course, is now moving into an iteration for its next development, which will be about a demand-led approach. And, of course, that will help to address these issues. 

I'm glad that you've raised the point about the fact that a great many people are very vulnerable on prepayment meters, and I hope you also will have heard my call again, and, actually, I think even Grant Shapps is saying he's sympathetic to the prospect of, actually, the UK Government not increasing the energy price guarantee from April. I think this is a key call that we must make across this Chamber today, because we need to make sure that we can support those most vulnerable households on prepayment meters. And, also, I hope you will be supportive of my calls for a social tariff as well, which, indeed, the UK Government and Ofgem have said that they are beginning to look at. But we have a serious issue here in terms of those who are most vulnerable, and, also, of course, the work that is being undertaken in terms of the retrofit of social housing is moving at pace with the allocation of funding this year and next.