Written question WQ86661
- Asked by
- Samuel KurtzConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 8 days
Question
What schemes are in place to assist schools in meeting the rise in energy costs?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Increasing energy costs and the cost-of-living crisis are putting schools, local authorities, and other public services, under significant pressure.
The rapid rise in inflation has meant that the Welsh Government’s budget is now worth less than it was at the time at which we set our spending plans. As a Government we are not immune to the context we are now collectively facing either.
The UK Government must act to restore the value of our settlement, providing an uplift to the Welsh Government’s budget to recognise these severe pressures. Only the UK Government has the financial levers to provide the level of support required.
We welcome the UK Government’s recent announcement introducing the Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS), a scheme which will support schools as well as businesses and other public services until the end of the current financial year.
We recognise the pressures on local authorities and other public services and that there are no easy answers. We are engaging closely with the local government on the budget and other issues.