WARM HOME DISCOUNT SCHEME - EXCLUSION OF NORTHERN IRELAND

Early day motion 547, tabled 25 November 2014 by Jeffrey Donaldson (DUP). Signed by 24 members.

That this House notes with concern the exclusion of pensioners resident in Northern Ireland from the Warm Home Discount Scheme since its inception in 2011; recalls that the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), in its Fuel Poverty Statistics Methodology and User Manual, has described fuel poverty as a partially devolved matter and has stated that the purpose of the Warm Home Discount Scheme is to reduce fuel poverty in the UK; acknowledges that, despite having high levels of fuel poverty amongst pensioners, Northern Ireland is the only region of the UK that is excluded from the scheme; and calls on DECC Ministers to enter into discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive in order to agree the extension of this important scheme so that pensioners in Northern Ireland can enjoy the benefits of this annual rebate on the cost of household energy bills.

Signatures by party: Labour 11, DUP 6, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Independent 2, Alliance 1, Respect 1.