Shadow Energy and Climate Change Minister Jonathan Reynolds MP has called on the Government to clarify why thousands of people in receipt of Universal Credit are not eligible for energy efficiency measures under the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) scheme, which was intended to assist vulnerable and low-income households.
 
Jonathan Reynolds MP said:

“David Cameron has repeatedly failed to stand up to the energy companies and announced substantial cuts to ECO at the end of last year. Now we learn that under the roll out of Universal Credit, some vulnerable households will not be eligible at all and left in the cold. Energy costs are a huge element in the cost-of-living crisis facing Britain right now - this is simply incompetent from the Government and it must be put right.”
 
Rachel Reeves MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: 

“The exclusion of Universal Credit claimants from an energy scheme aimed at helping low income households is yet another example of the chaos engulfing David Cameron’s flagship welfare reform programme. £40 million has already been written off and £91 million written down on failed IT for the scheme. It’s no surprise that Francis Maude has called the scheme ‘lamentable’.”