North Wales MS and Chair of the Senedd’s Cross-Party Group on Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency, Mark Isherwood, has today questioned the Minister for Social Justice over the actions the Welsh Government is taking to support older people who are struggling to pay their energy bills.
In a question on Welsh Government help for older people in Wales with the rising cost of living, Mr Isherwood, who Shadows the Minister, raised the high energy bills older people are facing and asked what actions Ministers are taking to address this.
He said:
“The Care & Repair report, 'Older People in Wales: Poverty in Winter 2023-24', found that, even with UK and Welsh Government financial support, the average Care & Repair client will be spending, on average, 19 per cent of their income on utilities, with 15 per cent on gas and electric alone, putting their average client in fuel poverty, and 96 per cent of households accessing their Energy Advice Service are living in fuel poverty.
“Their clients are particularly at risk of the health implications of cold homes, where 75 per cent of excess winter deaths are people aged 75 and over.
“What action will the Welsh Government therefore be taking to prioritise older people within its provision for tackling fuel poverty in Wales, now and as we move forward?”
In her response the Minister said “it is important to look to ways in which we can encourage older people to take up the benefits they're entitled to, in particular in relation to the cost-of-living crisis”, and that she has been working with the UK Government on a pilot for a particular take-up campaign for older people in terms of Pension Credit.
She said they will also benefit from “the energy advice schemes that are being provided and supported by the Welsh Government through Nest”.