13:48 Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat)

As the hon. Member laid out, hospices have not been classified as an energy-intensive industry, whereas many other places—including even botanical gardens, I think—have been. Hospices are therefore not getting the additional support, yet supporting care for those with very serious conditions is an energy-intensive task. Hon. Members who have visited hospices will have seen the paraphernalia and the equipment, and children and their families also have to be kept warm. It is absurd. I plead with the Minister to make strong representations to his colleagues in the Treasury to ensure hospices are reclassified as energy intensive. Earlier this week in departmental questions, my hon. Friend the Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale (Tim Farron) asked the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero to consider a specific fund to support hospices with their energy costs. The Secretary of State said he would look at those concerns. I therefore task the Minister with speaking to both the Secretary of State and colleagues at the Treasury to see what can be done to support Shooting Star and many other hospices.

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14:12 Neil O'Brien (Conservative)

The energy bills discount scheme will provide all eligible non-domestic energy users, such as hospices, with a discount on high energy bills until March 2024. It will apply to all UK domestic energy users in the voluntary and public sector, including hospices. We will invest up to £5.5 billion to support those non-domestic users. Furthermore, hospices may also be entitled to a reduction in VAT from 20% to 5% and exclusion from the main rates of the climate change levy on the energy they use for non-business purposes, as long as they meet the criteria in the scheme.

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